Valentine Marc Nkwame
5 July 2008
Arusha — Children who prowl Arusha streets now have health insurance or something similar to that.
Street children activists have taken the initiative to provide homeless children with sick-sheet that will enable them to get free medical attention and treatment at a number of local hospitals. It was revealed in Arusha recently.
Anna Thor, the Communications officer with Mkombozi center for street children, revealed during a recently held Journalists workshop organized by the Arusha Caucus for street children. The one-day long sessions was meant to sensitize local scribes on matters concerning homeless children and child rights as whole.
"When they fall sick or get injured during their daily endeavors all they have to do is simply get to the health centers, show their sick-sheet and will be treated free of charge," explained Ms Thor adding that, the organizations will then settle the hospital bills afterwards.
The center records 936 instances of first aid services given to street youths last year and 584 visits to the doctor were arranged and provided for. A total of 35 children and youth received mental health services and 35 adolescents received reproductive health care. Mkombozi operates in both Arusha and Moshi municipalities.
The center says it has provided around, 20,244 meals to children and youth in the previous fiscal year when also some 20,202 bed nights were provided at Mkombozi's residential centre.
During the period some 588 children and youth made contact with Mkombozi's social workers and educators on the streets while a total of 36 children and youth were reunified with their families. Eleven other children were placed in short term foster care.
Recently, more than 10 youth began living in half way housing in preparation for leaving care at the center. Around 322 children and youths participated in life skills education.
It is also reported that 51 youths among them 29 males and 22 females were employed or established small businesses, working in areas such as mechanics, computer technology, and social work and cooking.
Some 15 boys and 10 girls were trained in the Street Banking Toolkit (SBT). 18 boys and 27 girls were trained in the Street Business Toolkit (SBTK). 14 boys and 5 girls received loans for starting small businesses. 39 youth received start-up living grants to enable them to rent housing while they work so that they are no longer living in the streets or at the centre.
Last year 12 Community Technology Learning Centers were established and are reportedly running sustainable computer programs through which 388 students participated in and completed "Basic Microsoft Application Skills".
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