Child Neglect rocking Teso North Sub-county during December Holiday

Teso

Thursday November 9, 2023

KNA by Absalom Namwalo

With the closure of schools for over two months, the number of children involved directly in business in the Teso North sub-county has risen to 70% in the past week according to the statistics by the children's department in the sub-county.

 The move has seen stakeholders and NGOs intensify a sensitization campaign to parents and guardians on how to mitigate cases of child neglect in the sub-county which stands at 56% according to child protection data of 2023/2024.

According to Teso North Children’s Officer Joy Alumase, there is a need for parents to be engaged in the importance of taking up their responsibilities for bonding and monitoring their children's development in a holistic approach.

“The prevalence of child abuse cases resulting from child neglect is now a concern not just in Busia but globally. These cases have received minimal highlight in the media, unfortunately, some cases are rampant but tend to camouflage and are therefore not easily detected or responded to,” noted Alumase.

With the county's proximity to the border, high poverty index, and porosity of its exit and entry points, Busia County poses the biggest threat to cases of child abuse and trafficking.

Bodaboda, hospitality, clothes, and foodstuff vendors, and the mining industry have been on the receiving end as the influx of school-going children mushroomed in the sector in efforts to make ends meet or support their parents.

“When you visit Malaba town, the number of children seen either hawking or riding bodaboda is alarming and needs urgent intervention. The case is the same in the mining area around Odioi in Teso South and Bumutiru gold mines in Butula sub-counties,” added Alumase.

Teso North Sub-county is leading in child neglect cases in the county with 56% of children neglected forcing them to indulge in forced labour to meet their basic needs.

“The increase in these cases can be attributed to economic hardship brought by the pandemic, and the shift of clearing services from Malaba to Mombasa rendering most parents jobless,” she added.

The entry of children to marketplaces at an early stage has exposed them to different forms of abuse like abduction, trafficking, forced labour, cyberbullying, and transmission of infectious diseases which led to high rates of school drop-outs in the county.

 According to the statistics from the Teso North sub-county Education office, the sub-county has the highest number of students who register for exams only to come back during exam time as they prefer ready cash available in the smuggling of goods at the border.

A move that has seen the sub-county DCC Stephen Wambura ban night vigil popularly known as disco-Mataga during this festive season.

Wambura has challenged parents to be responsible if they have to save the future generation from teenage pregnancies, early marriage, and defilement cases that have rocked the education sector.

Mexico Center in Malaba town where drug peddling and prostitution has taken center stage has also continued to attract a large number of youths at evening hours and odd hours at night.

She said many of the cases involved students and the drugs had played a part in the upsurge of the abuse cases.

“We are concerned by the rise in cases of sexual abuse in Malaba town and adjacent towns like Kocholioa, Lukolisi, and Modingi. It's time action was taken before more minors suffer,” she said.

The sub-county children's department records at least two cases of sexual abuse involving minors and women weekly adding that there is a need for urgent intervention.

All these abuses arise from the neglect of most children by their parents who sound more occupied.

Courtesy ; KNA