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—A senior government official has called on Chipata Municipal Council in Eastern Province to construct play parks for the children.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Chilshe Mulenga, said it is a known fact that the council has given out plots in places that were used as play parks and advised the authority to work towards identifying other places because play parks are important as they are an effective way of encouraging interaction amongst children.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Zachariah Luhanga, held at Crossroads Lodge in Chipata today, Dr Mulenga said children are the future of any society and nation and if well natured they develop to their full potential and contribute positively to the social and economic sectors.
Dr Mulenga stated that this is confirmed by the current government’s policy on early childhood education that seeks to enable all children irrespective of their status to access pre-school services.
He said the achievement of balanced growth and development in children requires a comprehensive and holistic approach by many stakeholders considering that the issues that are a threat to children’s well-being are interlinked.
The PS added that children’s nutritional status affects their learning capacity, saying the health and well-being of children is of fundamental importance to their overall ability to grow, develop, and learn.
“Formation of intersectoral grouping is, therefore, a necessity especially in a nation like Zambia where financial resources are a challenge,” he added.
He has since thanked United Nation Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for supplementing government’s efforts to provide quality services to its citizens through supporting projects aimed at improving the welfare of the people and children in particular.
He said this is a clear indication that the organization has a passion for the children and the people at large.
And speaking at the same function Principal Education Standards Officer, Florence Chikalekale, called on stakeholders to strengthen ties as they tackle issues concerning children’s welfare.
Mrs Chikalekale said in the past children’s growth was monitored and also being de-wormed and given vitamins right at school.
She said there is need to give the children the same advantage by subjecting them to the same process for them to grow healthy besides giving them sound education to ensure that they grow into responsible citizens.
