“WE CAN DEFEAT MALARIA”, WORLD MALARIA DAY CELEBRATED

By Victor Kanguya,

Malaria kills one child every 30 seconds, about 3000 children every day. Over one million people die from malaria each year, mostly children under the age of five, with 90 percent of malaria cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. With such developments the world had to respond. In 2007 the World Malaria Day was instituted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) member states during the World Health Assembly. The theme for this year’s World Malaria Day which falls today, 25^th April 2013 is invest in the future, defeat Malaria.

World Malaria Day was established to provide education and understanding of Malaria. It is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for Malaria prevention and control. This day is also viewed as an opportunity for international partners, companies and foundations to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to further scale up interventions against combating Malaria. The World Health Organisation and other partners are calling upon the world to invest in the Malaria fight as this is the major step to eradicating this disease.

Despite Malaria being a preventable and curable disease it has continued to be one of the major causes of death in the world, particularly among Women and Children. Approximately half of the world’s population is at risk of Malaria, most of the cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2010, Malaria caused an estimated 660,000 deaths (with an uncertainty range of 490,000 to 836,000), mostly among African Children. Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25 percent globally since 2000 and by 33 percent in the World Health Organisation WHO African Region.

Of all people who die from Malaria in Zambia, 50 percent or more are children under the age of five years. Though Zambia has made strides in Malaria prevention and control in the last five years, it still kills more Children under the age of five than any other illness. Malaria affects more than 4 million Zambians annually, accounting for approximately 30 percent of outpatient visits and resulting in almost 8,000 deaths each year. Under five Children and pregnant Women are the most vulnerable, especially those in remote and impoverished areas, with 35-50 percent of under five mortality attributable to Malaria. Poor health seeking behaviour among communities is another challenge related to low awareness about Malaria.

Speaking during the launch of 2013 World Malaria Day, Minister of Health, Dr Joseph Kasonde said government is committed to reducing Malaria in the country. This is why the government has initiated various programmes such as encouraging pregnant women to attend Antenatal, distribution of mosquito nets, indoor and outdoor spraying.

If the world is to maintain and accelerate progress against Malaria, in line with the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6, and to ensure attainment of MDG 4 and 5, more funds are urgently required. Malaria prevention and treatment is expensive. Only over the last five years, as a result of partnership between the Government of Zambia, the World Health Organisation WHO, UNICEF and other partners have made the plight of treating Malaria affordable for most Zambians. In order to fight Malaria measures such as the distribution of subsidized nets Insecticide-treated Nets (INTs) are now widely available, but need still outstrips supply. Currently 64 percent of households in Zambia own at least one INT.

Combating Malaria is vitally important in the battle to save young lives and protect Children from losing their Mothers. Since 2000 Malaria mortality rates have fallen more than 25 percent, and 50 of the 99 countries with ongoing transmission are now on track to meet the 2015 World Health Assembly target of reducing incidence rates by more than 75 percent. If the world is to halt Malaria, there is need concerted efforts and self prevention among the public.     The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.

KUKWATILISA BANA TILEKE - STOP CHILD MARRIAGES

By Mwiza Zulu

The Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs has launched a national campaign against early marriages. The launch which took place on Saturday, 13^th April 2013 in Chipata Eastern Province was held under the theme, ‘end child marriages; let girls be girls, not brides’.

Present at the event were Zambia’s First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba, his Royal Highness Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people, UNICEF Deputy Country Representative Ms Gita Gupta, cabinet ministers and many other dignitaries.

In his welcoming remarks, Eastern Province Minister Mr Malonzo Sichone said that early marriages deny the girls and boys of their youth. He said it is also a violation of their fundamental rights and that it was for this reason that the campaign was launched.

In a speech read for him by Mr. George Zulu, Paramount Chief Mpezeni promised his total support to the campaign. He said he was ready to take centre stage in the fight against early marriages. “Girls involved in early marriages are exposed to many health risks”, Mpenzeni said.

Chief Mpezeni added that the government should not be left alone in the fight against early marriages. He further encouraged the traditional community to help in this fight.

Chief Mpezeni further urged the government to create mechanisms to allow chiefs to enforce panic punishment for perpetrators.

The Chief also urged parents to let their children go to school and not marry them off.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Deputy Country Representative Ms Gita Gupta said everyone should not take early marriage as tradition because tradition can change.

“We need to focus on giving disadvantaged families opportunities as alternatives to marrying off their daughters.” She lamented.

The legal marriage age should change so that early marriages should not be justified as culturally acceptable she further said.

Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Prof. Nkandu Luo whose Ministry is behind the campaign said the fight against early marriages is a regional issue and not only a national issue.

And First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba who was Guest of Honour at the launch said child marriage is one of the most severe violations of child rights. She said child marriages expose the children to violence and abuse and deny children their childhood. The First Lady clearly showed her support to the campaign against early marriages as she frequently said  during her speech, ‘kukwatilisa bana tileke’, which means stop child marriages.

She stated that the government needs to strive to end poverty which is one of the major contributors to early marriages.

She further urged the government to tackle the issue of definition of a child. She said both Customary and Statutory Law should recognize a child as a person below the age of 18.

Child marriage can be stopped in one generation and this campaign is a step forward in the fight against child marriages.

Just as our First Lady put it, ‘kukwatilisa bana tileke’, let girls be girls, not brides. The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union

THE STATE PARTY REPORT ON CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, IS IT SERVING ITS PURPOSE?

By Victor Kanguya,

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20^th November, 1989 and entered into force on 2^nd September, 1990. The Convention, which contains 54 articles, is a comprehensive instrument which sets out rights that define universal principles and norms for children. To adequately insure all the protocols were being adhered to, states parties are obliged to submit initial reports.

One of the principle mechanisms by which the treaty bodies monitor the extent of compliance by states parties with their obligations under the human rights treaties is through a system of state party reporting. Under each of the treaties, states parties undertake to submit reports to the treaty bodies; explaining the progress made and problems encountered in implementing treaty obligations.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is a body of 18 internationally elected independent experts on Children’s Rights. The Committee monitors progress towards implementing these rights. In assessing a country’s progress towards implementing the UNCRC, the UN committee takes into account the Government’s reports and submissions from non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) concerned with Children’s Rights and welfare.

The Committee has noted that some of the reports submitted initially were so brief and that the Committee found it necessary to elaborate general guidelines regarding the form and content of reports. These consolidated guidelines were designed to ensure that reports were presented in a uniform manner and to enable the Committee obtain a complete picture of the situation in each state as regards the implementation of the rights referred to in the covenant.

Despite the guidelines, however, some reports are still so brief and general that they do not satisfy the reporting obligations under the Article 44. In these cases the Committee can grant, during examination of the report the possibility to state party to compliment this information within a specified deadline. Governments are encouraged; using the Convention as a guide in policy making implementation to: Ensure that all legislation is fully compatible with the convention as well as develop a comprehensive national agenda for Children among others.

Considering the importance of the UNCRC there is need for states parties to ensure they submit their annual reports to the Committee. Zambia is one of the countries that have fallen significantly behind in the submission of reports, hence making it difficult for the Committee to monitor states parties’ reports. The Committee has the mandate to examine the country’s situation when states have failed to produce a report for several years.

Children are neither the property of their parents nor are they helpless objects of charity. They are human beings and are subject to their own rights. There is need for Children to be adequately represented during public considerations. Even though there are provisions for an individual to make complaints to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, children are not considered despite being the cause of action.  The Convention encourages states to take special measures to develop special institutions for the promotion and protection of Children’s Rights.

Children deserve to be highly valued for the unique contribution they make through just being children. Despite the UNCRC being a tool formulated to the highest of standards, many have expressed dissatisfaction with the document. The public have noted the lack of provisions for rigorous sanctions that will compel states parties to produce complete reports and on time. The best interests of the child should be the primary concern of decision making, and all matters relating to children should be of outright importance to everyone. The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.

THE WORLD CELEBRATES WORLD HEALTH DAY

By VICTOR KANGUYA

The World Health Day is held each year on 7^th April to mark the founding of the World health Organisation WHO. This day is seen as an opportunity by the organisation to draw worldwide attention to a particular subject of major importance to global health each year. This year’s World Health day was held under the theme, high blood pressure.

As the world experiences rapid globalization, the lifestyle in most households has taken a twist. Most people have adopted poor eating habits and a general unhealthy lifestyle. The ultimate goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce heart attacks and strokes. One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.

Various local, national and international events are arranged to educate and highlight the public on a priority area of public health concern in the world. This event receives mass coverage and thus it is a good opportunity to raise key health issues. Events such as conferences for health workers, briefings for political leader, information displays for children and young people, public matches and demonstrations; as well as free or easy access to medical tests, can take place on the day.

Specific objectives of the World Health Day 2013 are to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure. The focus of the day was also towards inciting national and local authorities to create enabling environments for healthy behaviour. In developing countries such as Zambia, access to adequate health care is still a challenge even to those in urban areas. Making blood pressure measurement affordable to all has been set as one of the key objectives as the world celebrates this year’s World Health day.

High blood pressure is a condition most often associated with adults, but children can have high blood pressure too even as infants. An estimated 3% of children have high blood pressure in the world. Even though high blood pressure is not predominant in children, the rate among children is on the rise hence there is need to actively involve children in the fight against high blood pressure.

Gift Thandi a pupil from Olympia Secondary School, outlined the importance of young people’s participation on this day. He said children must take an interest to join the fight against high blood pressure and other health challenges, because they are not spared. “Children are part of the solution not only in the fight against blood pressure and other health challenges the world is facing”, Thandi said.

7^th April which is World Health day is not a public Holiday. Despite this day not being a public holiday, the public at large inclusive of young people should rise up and be part of the solution to high blood pressure and other health issues.  Even in the event of rapid globalization; people should maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing salt intake if the World is to rid high blood pressure.   The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.