Children still lacking visibility in the Zambian media

By Chrispin Sinyangwe

All forms of media play an important role towards the development of children. Child participation in the media is cardinal as it allows children to express their views on issues affecting them. Since 2011, the Media Network Child Rights and Development (MNCRD) has embarked on equipping the media and children with skills to cover child rights and development issues in Zambia. Despite all efforts being put in stories on children only catered for 9 % of all stories broadcast during the period monitored.

Results from the 2012 Media Monitoring Report, showed that children covered in the media were mostly portrayed as victims. Forty five percent of stories portrayed children as victims. This indicates a significant increase from 27 percent in 2011 and the increase in reporting on girls was due to the increase of child abuse stories.”

 "Children are sometimes covered in the media but are mostly portrayed as victims, having their opinions almost never heard. It is important for children to take part in media activities to enable them air out their own opinion”, said 14 year old Mwiza Zulu. MNCRD Projects Manager Prisca Sikana expressed sadness at how children had been neglected by the media."Their stories have been looked upon as irrelevant; the only stories considered as news worthy is in the negative. On the part of electronic and print media, not enough space is given to children,” said Ms Sikana.

A former child television presenter, Brian Phiri expressed sadness at how children are only given one day in a week to air out their views on television by some television stations.  “Even though, children do all the programmes on that day, freedom of expression is still hindered as children are told what to do and say”, he adds.

 Press Association of Zambia (PAZA), Executive Secretary Patson Phiri said the organisation has set up a desk to sensitize the general membership and encourage them to cover issues affecting children.

“The capacity to write and report on children’s issues is lacking among journalists in the country. They should be able to interpret issues affecting children in the country and make them interesting in the eyes of the reader.” He lamented.

The Media Monitoring Report is produced by MNCRD and Media Monitoring Africa yearly with the support from the European Union and Save the Children International.

The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.

Woes of young people after completing secondary school

By Brian Phiri

  “We were desperate to leave high school and go on a quest to find jobs,” said a group of grade twelve school leavers. “Now that our results are out, we are jobless and we are now desperate to go to college and university, but without money it is 100% impossible for us to do so,” they further said.

After writing their final secondary school leaving examinations in November 2012, many school leavers are now roaming the streets complaining that there is no employment in the country. The school leavers said they have so far written applications to various companies and co-operations to be sales representatives, receptionists, secretaries and even general workers but all this has proved futile. The school leavers said they need employment in order to serve money for university and college expenses.

Other school leavers said government bursaries are also very few and only cater for those with very high marks. Others say they no longer want to depend on their parents or guardians to continue paying school fees for them through university or college while for others, their parents or guardians are not able to raise money required for them to pursue tertiary or university education.

“I have just been home, sleeping and eating for over 5 months since I wrote my grade 12 exams. I have applied for work at over 5 companies and all they have told me is that they need a university degree, certificate or diploma,” 17 year old, Jack Mwaba of Mtendere. Jack further said it was discouraging to know that even a job as sales attendant, receptionist, and general working requires qualifications such as degrees or certificate.

“How can we go to college or university without money? That money can only be earned by doing a particular job, but because unemployment levels are high, very few of us will be able to make it to university or college or even get employed,” lamented Twaambo Saili.

Others spoken to attributed the lack of employment to nepotism, tribalism and corruption across the country. They said that in order for one to get a job in some companies, somebody they know has to work there, or they have to give some money to those offering the employment or one has to be of the same tribe or creed with their prospective employer to get a normal and stable job. The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.

CHAMA AND SERENJE DISTRICTS’ PLIGHT FOR QUALITY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY RECOGNISED

By Victor Kanguya,

Children are a very vital part of society; their well being and that of their mothers should be taken into account in order to achieve sustainable social, economic and political development. In a bid to achieve this, the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH) with its cooperating partners on Tuesday 7^th May, 2013 handed over two new Ambulances to Serenje and Chama Districts. This donation was aimed at increasing the country’s momentum in achieving the millennium development goals 1, 4 and 5, with the help of the H4+ CIDA program.

Despite the numerous efforts being made by the Government and its cooperating partners, access to quality maternal and newborns health care has continued to remain a major challenge for most sub Saharan African countries. In Zambia alone, it is estimated that approximately eight women die each day due to pregnancy and child birth and forty eight newborns die due to prematurity complications during delivery and infections. Ill equipment and lack of trained personnel in hospitals especially in farfetched areas has been cited as one of the major barriers to achieving quality health care for Women and children in the country.

Zambia being a United Nations UN member state is required to make efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In order to achieve this, Government has partnered with various stakeholders in realizing these goals particularly MDG 4 and 5 targets: where the country is expected to make strides in reducing child mortality rates by two thirds and improve maternal health among others. On Tuesday, Government and its cooperating partners launched the 2013 MDG report. During the launch, it was noted that though the country had achieved much, there was need to accelerate efforts in reducing child mortality rates. The report also highlighted major achievements so far such as the reduction in Child Mortality by 30 percent. However it was observed that Zambia will not be able to achieve the MDG on maternal mortality at the current pace the country is taking.

In a bid to help attain MDGs 4 and 5, various activities are being undertaken. One such program is the H4+ CIDA program. The H4+ CIDA program is comprised of UNICEF, WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA and the World Bank. The program has been supporting the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health and the Ministry of Health since 2012 to accelerate progress towards maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality reduction in Chama, Chadiza, Serenje, Lukulu and Kalabo districts.

UNICEF Zambia Country Representative, Dr. Iyorlumum J. Uhaa said the project aims to strengthen healthcare systems and improve access to quality Reproductive Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (RMNCH) services. He further said, UNICEF is supporting the five districts in order to accelerate progress towards maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality to enable Government address gaps in the mentioned districts, He said in his speech.

Delivery of quality health care services is vital for the country’s development. Government through the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health is involved in a number of programs to address the challenge of maternal and child health in the country. During the handover of the two ambulances, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Hon. Jean Kapata reiterated government’s commitment in providing quality health care services in the country. She also said the ambulances could not have come at a better time and the gesture must be highly recommended. “These Ambulances have been given to them to accelerate maternal health and prevent unnecessary deaths because no Woman should die while giving birth no matter where they live”, she said.

Despite the acknowledgement that Zambia will not be able to achieve MDG goals on Child Mortality and Maternal Health, the country should still continue to strive and meet these goals. All stakeholders should ensure mothers are healthy all the times in order to reduce on emergencies and save the lives of children and their mothers. The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union