Mozambique: Volunteer agricultural production feeds 4000 families in Mecuzi, Nhamatanda
DW (File photo)
Children’s welfare organisations in Mozambique say that fundamental rights such as food and education continue to be denied to many, with the country ranked among the world’s worst in the Save the Children fund annual report.
Mozambique ranks 160th out of a total of 172, with many children suffering from chronic malnutrition, violence and neglect. Child poverty is high and there is great difficulty keeping children in school.
On World Children’s Day last week, Victor Maulana, coordinator of the Good Hope Friends of the Child Association (Associação Amigos da Criança Boa Esperança), outlined the need to protect children.
“There are a lot of children who are vulnerable and in a situation of great risk,” he said. Many children were not going to school, and there were cases of child labour and premature marriage. He said that in Mozambique, “Children ‘andam de qualquer maneira’”, meaning that they are not taken care of, and get married very early.
José Moda, provincial director of Gender, Child and Social Action, shares the same concerns. In his view, it is urgent that parents and guardians stop mistreating children and grant them their full rights. Several activities are being developed to support this aim. Moda says “more than six thousand children are being supported in various social protection programs with food kits and activities”.
Victor Maulana applauds these measures but draws attention to the need to build more public children’s centres to accommodate the most disadvantaged children. “If we had schools spread around the country, children would go to school at a young age because every child who goes to school at a young age is preparing for his or her future,” he said.
“Save the Children” report
Keeping children in school, neonatal and maternal mortality and chronic malnutrition affecting approximately 43 per cent of children under five years of age, are among the difficulties identified in the Save the Children report entitled “Stolen Childhood”.
Reacting to the report, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called on the Mozambican government and partners to strengthen child support systems, including the provision of health care and education.
Among Portuguese-speaking countries, Angola is worst placed, ranking 171st in a total of 172 countries. Coming 156th, Guinea-Bissau has a better ranking than Mozambique (160). São Tomé and Príncipe occupies 114th place and Cape Verde 85th.
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