Samples from
at least 180 street children encamped at Nakivubo Blue Primary School
during the lockdown following the outbreak of coronavirus in the country
have been taken for testing.
Officials at Kampala
Capital City Authority (KCCA) on Friday said this will enable them know
the status of the children especially those who going to be reintegrated
with their families.
At least 40 street children have
come to terms with the authorities to unite with their families while 80
others have chosen to join vocational training.
Ms
Harriet Mudondo, the director gender community services and production
at KCCA, said the children have reached this decision with the help of
psycho-social support and counselling.
Ms Mudondo said the children will be further followed and communities sensitised to prevent them from facing stigma.
“We
have had 18 social workers, 17 streets uncles and four nurses working
with them on a day-to-day basis. They have been making sure the children
come to terms with what they want to be in life and how they want to
turn out and so we have reached a point, she explained.
Ms Mudondo added: “We have been able to identify about 40
children that have decided to go back to their families because a family
is an ideal place for the child to be.”
Meanwhile,
China State Constructing Engineering Corporation Limited (CSEC) has
donated reintegration package for the 40 children.
While
handing over the donations that include mattresses, blankets, sugar and
rice, among others, Mr York Wu, the chief representative of CSCEC, said
children are talented and are the future of the country.
However,
for some children who were not willing to either join institutions or
reintegrate with their families but rather stay on the streets, KCCA
said it will continue to engage them so that they can make the right
decision.
Findings from the enumeration of street
children by Retrak Uganda in collaboration with the Gender ministry and
Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) indicated that there are more than
2,600 children living on the streets and are seven to 17 years old while
1,410 others of seven to 17 years are estimated to be working on the
street.
Government has warned agencies who are making benefits out of these children by encouraging them to stay on the streets.
natukunda@ug.natioinmedia.com
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