Anslem Wandega
3 September 2008
Kampala — The sixth African Conference on child abuse and neglect will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in May next year.
Early childhood is considered a foundation for overall human development. It is a period when humans cultivate a culture of tolerance, respect and mutual understanding.
Uganda has about six million children aged 0-6 years that are competing for the few nursery schools, most of which are located in the urban areas and charge exorbitant fees. But over 70% of children that require these services are in the rural areas, in households that are affected by poverty.
The few nursery schools available lack experienced staff, have a poor learning environment, lack a uniform curriculum for students and they are rarely supervised. In most urban homes, toddlers are subjected to homework in order to ensure that they pass exams. There are also insufficient facilities to enable children with disabilities access early childhood educational services.
There is lack of an effective mechanism for registering and inspecting day care centres to ensure that they have adequate facilities for children.
The health indicators are worse. The chance that a child will die between birth and five years of age is 134 children per 1,000 live births. The chance of a child dying between birth and before one year is 78 children per 1,000 live births. Also, the probability that a child will die in the first 28 days of life is 32 children per 1,000 live births
Additionally, 12% of children experience low birth weight, 20% suffer from moderate and severe underweight, 5% suffer severe wasting and 32% are stunted.
Our country's record of fighting HIV/AIDS seems to be regressing. About 5.2% of the pregnant women or 110, 000 children are living with HIV/AIDS.
Hundreds of thousands of children continue to battle with sexual, physical and emotional abuse with many others abandoned and neglected daily.
A comprehensive policy on early childhood development and education would bring about benefits that developed countries are enjoying as a result of investing heavily in this stage of development.
The writer is a development worker
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