Challenges Faced by children in Uganda
Generally, children are considered as blessings in Families. Most men in Uganda abandon their wives and others if they are barren. Still in Uganda children are considered as happiness in a family. However, the children of Uganda face multiple challenges and some are mentioned below.
Child labor;
is very right for everyone to work and even God instructed us to get food from our sweat. Statistics show that 36% of children between 5 to 14 years old are affected by child labor. Some children are forced to find jobs so that they improve their families’ financial resources. Others getting a job is the only way for them to survive. Multiple children in Uganda are leaving their land of birth and becoming servants in agricultural sectors in Neighboring countries or districts. But we can deal with child labor by giving simplified jobs to children because on the other hand, they need money.
Poverty;
More than a third of all the people live below the poverty line in Uganda. Children are primary victims of this economic situation whereby their families cannot ensure their health, particularly in remote regions in Uganda. Some children are sent to live in towns and cities as it is thought that they will be better off living in town areas, where they end up living on the streets. Other children are neglected as an account of poverty, access to education becomes a privilege from which only the most fortunate children benefit.
In Uganda, the mortality rate of children under the age of 5 is gravely high and life expectancy at birth particularly is low. Poverty, lack of infrastructure, and ill-suited personnel are barriers to the health of children. Viral maladies are very virulent and rapidly transmitted on account of lack of hygiene and unhealthy living conditions. For example, cholera is one of the problems that gravely affect the health of Ugandan youths. The use of dirty water in many households leads to many children becoming infected by this particular disease which can turn out to be fatal.
Many children in Uganda suffer from malnutrition. The country’s northeastern region is very arid and most affected. The land in that region is too dry to produce an adequate amount of food, consequently, food shortages are a regular problem. In 2010, over 40% of children under the age of 5 suffered from dietary shortcomings.
Malnutrition among children has a serious impact on their health. Some die from it while others exhibit deficiencies that can lead to any number of diseases. Lack of nourishment can have harmful effects that are sometimes felt for the entire duration of one’s life.
The practice of child marriage is widespread in Uganda and the research shows that the number of young girls who marry before the age of 18 exceeds 46%. And the consequences are grave, especially for very young girls.
In Uganda violence committed against women and children is very prevalent. It frequently occurs within the heart of the family those who commit such violence are very rarely brought to justice. Numerous pieces of legislation have been proposed to eradicate child abuse. But the situation remains far from satisfying. The protection of children must be incontestably reinforced because the physical and psychological consequences of child abuse are both serious and long-lasting.
In Uganda, speech can sometimes prove costly. Different opinions are not always welcome and it can be risky to voice them too strongly.
The use of force is common; in general, demonstrations are violently suppressed. As a result, the personal security of individuals is considerably limited. Often it is the nonpartisan individual who fined him or herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up paying the price. A certain number of children, for example, are routinely wounded or even killed during these demonstrations.
The children are our responsibility and we play a great role in what they become in the future. It is me and you who can empower them to overcome these challenges by volunteering in Uganda.
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