Our Reporter
Dimapur, Nov. 9 (EMN): An action plan to promote ‘child friendly village’ in Nagaland to be implemented by nongovernmental organisation Community Health Initiative (CHI) was proposed during the concluding event of the German Academic Exchange Service or Daad alumni workshop, on November 9 in Dimapur.
The implementation is proposed to have Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation as technical support.
During the programme, three group members discussed implementation of “child friendly villages” in Nagaland. Besides, they discussed topics about child labour, women and adolescent and child health, and education in Nagaland.
During the discussions a group led by senior research associate of the Bangladesh rural advancement committee Avijit Saha said one of the problems about ‘child labour’ is that children and parents choose voluntary labour as opportunity to improve their family’s livelihood.
The members said one of the root causes of child labour in Nagaland is the poor economic condition of some tribes, generally, and such challenges in the face of children’s livelihood and education.
By 2023 their goal and mission is that all the children in Nagaland will have the opportunity to enjoy their ‘full right of childhood,’ the members said.
Another group led by Archana Seahwag discussed women and adolescence in the context of Nagaland. The members said lack of awareness regarding reproductive and sexual health among adolescents and women lead to multiple issues such as teenage pregnancies, and infertility, among many other issues.
The members have urged for education of the people about their sexual rights, besides promoting reproductive health among adolescents and women in Nagaland through a series of ‘periodic behaviour change communication and strategies.’
Topics about child health and education in Nagaland were discussed by a third group led by a public health analyst in Myanmar, Kyaw Khaing. It was informed that the target area will be Ntu village’s government high school in Peren district.
Group members also talked about major health problems such as diarrhoeal diseases, infective hepatitis and other water-borne diseases caused by non-portable drinking water and bad sanitation.
The members said also that investing in water, sanitation and hygiene in schools has proven that children are far more receptive to new ideas and have the ability to develop good habits in their most formative years.
