As child abuse remains a pressing issue, it has been revealed that 543 cases were recorded in the Northern Division alone last year, with the youngest victim being just one day old.
Speaking during the Duavata Northern Crime Prevention Carnival, Minister for Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran says a total of 1,957 child abuse cases were recorded across the country.
Kiran says that 54 percent of the child victims were under the age of 12.
She says 62 percent of the reported cases involved neglect, sexual abuse and physical abuse, with most incidents coming from the Northern Division.
The Minister stressed that these figures clearly show that children are at risk from drugs, violence and abuse.
She further says there is a need to develop prevention committees to protect children and urges parents to spend 20 minutes each morning and evening checking in with their children to spot any signs of distress or substance abuse.
Kiran says that one of the biggest challenges is parental neglect and family breakdown.
However, with commitment, this can be turned around through open communication, care and by strengthening family support systems.
The Minister highlighted that she has met families who have been gutted by drugs, exposing children as well, resulting in the spread of HIV and AIDS because of injectable drugs.
She is also concerned about how drug abuse connects with issues like child neglect, domestic violence, poverty and mental health, where many children end up on the streets.
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