—— Distributes Food, Consumable, Money to Hospitals, Orphanage Homes
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Kogi State Governor on child abuse , Hon. Oziohu Jamilat Muhammed has called on parents and guardians to and protect their children against all forms of child abuse to enable them live a peaceful life in the society.
Hon. Jamilat Muhammed made the call on Tuesday when she visited Reference hospitals in Okene, Specialist hospital and two orphanage homes in Lokoja the state capital to educate and sensitize children and parents on the danger inherent in child abuse and the possible ways to eradicate the menace.
The Senior Special Assistant, who stated that , there can never be a community without children, said the current administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had prioritize the welfare of children, assuring that her office will take the sensitization campaign to parents and guardians in the 21 local government areas of the State to eradicate child abuse in Kogi State.
While urging parents to safeguard, train and bring up their children in a modest way that will enable them to fit into the society, the SSA charged them to intensify effort in ensuring that their children grow up without any forms of abuse.
“It is also imperative for parents not to abuse their children. There are three or more types of abuses namely physical child abuses which involve beating and inflicting injuries on the body of a child because you want to correct him or her. This type of abuse will only make children to be harden and become hostile in the society.
“The second is sexual abuse. As a mother you have to be careful the type of people that move around with your children. Some people coming closer to the children have bad intention toward them. Some male adult derive pleasure in having the canal knowledge of minor which exposes children to danger and such act is evil and devilish. Mothers should also keep an eye on some family members and nannies because they can be dangerous to the children.
“Emotional abuse is also very bad because there certain treatment you give to your child that you don’t know you are challenging their mental health, they start thinking far as a child and they will grow up to become doll because of the way and manner you have treated them.
“As a result of this abuse the children can not expressed themselves in public. There is another type of abuse called neglect , some parents don’t bother if their children are hungry and they don’t know that they are damaging the children’s health. As parents you should try as much as possible not to have a damage children that will ultimately affects the society.
“My visits to the children wards in the hospitals and some orphanage homes is to show how much our governor love and care for children. As we move from one place to another we distribute cooked food, noddles, toiletries and cash to the children to make them happy.” she advised.
While commending the State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for prioritizing the welfare of children , the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on child abuse assured all the orphanage homes in Kogi State that government will continue to support them so as to take good care of the children in their various homes.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director , Specialist Hospital Lokoja Professor Isah Yahaya Adagiri described the effort of the SSA in sensitizing parents on child abuse as very important and necessary , saying lack of knowledge has been observed to be a contributing factor to the rising menace of child abuse in the society.
Professor Adagiri who charged parents to be wary of some relations and close neighbours, advised them to always educate their children on the need for them to report whenever they were abuse by any body.
In her words of appreciation , the proprietor, Rehoboth children home located at phase one Lokoja, Modupe Awoniyi appealed to the state government to assist the children home with vehicle and financial support to enable her run the home effectively.
“I am not surprised when I saw the SSA in our home at the instance of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. The Governor when he has never dream of becoming the chief executive of the state, we approached him when he was auditor general of local government, we presented our major challenges then which was water and within twenty four hours he provided us with motorized bore-hole and a generator aside other assistance he rendered to us”
“Now that he is the governor of the state we are also seeking for his support in the area of transportation we don’t have vehicle to convey our children to functions that can improve their knowledge. This children are fatherless and motherless , as citizen we believe that they should live a normal life like other children, therefore we need the support of government to make this children comfortable” she stated.
Clara Ogunshaba the matron of stagi cornerstone orphanage home in her remarks, commended the SSA for the advocacy she brought to the home on child abuse, noting that she has open their eyes to certain issues concerning child abuse.
Ogunshaba promised to take measures in ensuring that non of their children in orphanage home suffered any forms of abuse.
She however appealed to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to assist the home by controlling the water carnal that led to the major river which over flows every rainy season causing massive flood in Adankolo new layout community, stressing that last year they have to evacuate the children out of the vicinity as a result of the impact of the flood.
Highlight of the visit and sensitization programme was the distribution of food, consumables, toiletries and cash to children in hospitals and orphanage homes.
