District Assemblies Asked To Be Involved In Child Development

Nkwanta (V/R), Aug 15, -- District assemblies have been charged to be more actively involved in issues on the well-being and development of children. ........"district assembly authorities have to plan and provide the range of services needed in the communities considering the various needs of children......". Mrs Betty Akuffo-Amoabeng, Executive-Secretary of the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC) made the call at the launching of a report on the state of the child in the Volta Region with emphasis on the Nkwanta district at Nkwanta yesterday. Among others, the report concluded that though "the district assembly allocates money for health and education, it has no specific programme for children''. Mrs Akuffo-Amoabeng therefore asked the district assemblies to monitor the implementation of programmes and projects in addition to making budgetary provisions for the problems of children. The report which is the outcome of a study undertaken by the GNCC with support from the Save the Children's fund (SCF) of the United Kingdom assessed the country's progress in meeting the ten year (1993-2002) National Plan of Action (NPA) on child survival, protection and development. The report focused on water and sanitation, health, education, children with special needs, child welfare and labour. Others are traditional practices relating to children, the district assembly and the needs of children and non-governmental organisations. It recommended among others that the maternal and child health care clinics in the district should intensify education to improve coverage of immunisation, child health services, ante and post natal services, nutrition and family planning. Teachers quarters must be provided in remote areas to attract teachers while pavilions should be provided for areas which have not got them. It also recommended that District Assemblies should provide recreational and sporting facilities and opportunities for children.