The Girl-Child and Government Service Provision.pdf - Tanzania ...

Child protectionThere are 30 orphans in the district, according to the districtsocial-affairs officer (this is taken to mean 30 that hepersonally is aware of). They receive some support (5,000riel, that is, US$1.50 per month). This officer also respondsto the needs of 17 children disabled because of conflict orpolio. Researchers noted the low number of orphansrecognised in the district or acknowledgement of types ofsocial issues where children may need some assistancefrom government. Observations on the poor availability ofresources from government sources was made by the social-affairsofficer, recognising that much more would bepossible if funding for vocational training and animal raisingwas offered. A separate interview with an official from theMinistry of Women’s Affairs showed that campaigns existto combat trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls andwomen. In this district two local cases of rape have beentaken through the courts, with the offenders prosecuted.This is not common in Cambodia, where the law often doesnot take action in such cases. Resources to run broad-basedgender awareness has not been forthcoming from the government.A request for the release of funds for agreed activitieson this have experienced processing delays.Location CHealthPneumonia, cough, diarrhoea and skin infections are commonafflictions of children. Health problems also result fromthe proximity of open sewage drains to squatter communities.Other risks include homelessness or injury resultingfrom fire. A fire recently caused 427 people to be homelessin a village that was part of the survey. Two boys who weretrapped in a burning building died. Members of a governmentservice, the fire department, demanded money fromvillages before taking action to extinguish the fire. This hassince resulted in dismissals of two officials, but, as a localnewspaper notes, they are still drawing salary. According tothe health-centre director, of the 1,335 children to have accessedthe centre in the past three months, the rate of girlsis higher than boys. The health-centre director observedthat this was due to the fact that girls are kept at homelonger than boys, who are sent out to work. Free access tohealth-care and prevention projects was the main recommendationfor promoting child health in urban poor areas.EducationA poor food-security situation for a family is the maincause of children dropping out, according to the principalof a large primary school with 889 students. Access of girlscould be enhanced by making education attendance trulyfree, offering foreign learning, sewing, and anti-drug/antigangprogrammes with students. Linking studies with smallbusiness could lead to creative solutions to problems. Theelimination of negative factors such as gangs and substanceabuse was also noted as an initiative that would increaseschool access for girls. He expressed commitment to developinga better school but identified problems in findingand communicating with donors, citing lack of experienceand knowledge of alternative sources of funding from thegovernment. A colleague made observations on the valueof credit programmes improving livelihood issues for families,which in turn allows children, particularly girls, increasedaccess. She voiced her support for incentives suchas free schooling materials as one way to increase accessfor girls.Child protectionThe social-affairs official identified distinctive urban problemssuch as drug use, street gangs, domestic violence andlivelihood issues as barriers to education access. Thesepresent special risk to children but also need to be seen asbroader public health concerns. She recommended freehealth treatment and education as ways to encouragemore girls to access these services. The difficulty in securingsufficient resource allocation through the governmentsystem is a barrier to service delivery. Her colleague alsonoted lack of priority from parents of child safety, the effectson children of HIV/AIDS and resulting AIDS orphans.The importance of approaches that improved livelihoodwas recognised. Difficulty was expressed in accessing fundsfrom government sources to meet existing commitments.She would like to see emergency relief and support availableto families in distress where there are child protectionconcerns, as these approaches may promote safety of thechild as well as giving greater access to education for girlchildren. These could lead to livelihood support approachesand small-business grants. It was acknowledged “that thiswould come from the NGO sector rather than the governmentsector, as budget requests to carry out child relatedprogrammes are ignored.”The Girl-Child and Government Service Provision 21