The Head of Lagos State Child Protection Unit, Mrs Modupe Adebambo, has advised that government should engage parents and teachers in finding lasting solutions to the high rates of child abuse in the country.
Adebambo said there was the need to involve parents and teachers in creating awareness on child abuse so that they could protect any child from being abused and to report perpetrators to legally constituted authorities.
The Child Protection Unit boss was speaking on the sideline of the Parent, Teacher Association (P.T.A) conference on Child Safeguarding and Protection held in Lagos over the weekend.
Adebambo said they would achieve this by creating awareness among the public on the evils of child abuse on their victims.
“The more we get reports and bringing perpetrators to book, the better for our children; convictions will in a way deter other potential perpetrators out there.
“We did not only engage parents and teachers, we have also educated both high school and primary schools pupils on the need to speak up on such.
“We have materials to help us break the silence culture and we have boxes to drop comments.
“Also some NGOs have continued to partner us to break the silence,” she said.
Adebambo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that child abuse is the physical, sexual and psychology mistreatment of innocent children by adults.
She urged parents and teachers to look out for signs such as depression, anxiety disorders, low self-esteem, aggressive behaviour, suicide, dissociation, eating disorder among others in their children.
She also said that any child with such attitudes should be asked questions appropriately and be treated with love so as to speak on things happening to him or her.
“Any perpetrator should be reported to a nearby police station or call DSVRT on 08137960048,’’ she said.
Also, the Executive Director of Child Health Advocacy Initiative, Mrs Lolade Alonge, said that parents were the first respondent in cases of child abuse, and involving them would curb its high incidence in the society.
“Engaging parents and informing them of dangers of child abuse may save thousands of children from lifetime pains.
“That is the more reason we are engaging parents, teachers and counselors; providing them with information needed on the need to join hands with relevant bodies in creating awareness on child abuse,” she said.
She, however, warned physical, emotional, sexual abusers to desist from such act as the perpetrator would be punished severely.
The conference attended by no fewer than 1,000 parents and teachers from schools in Lagos State was organized by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).
(NAN)