With Child Protection Week 2023 drawing to a close, the staggering amount of violence against children is once again highlighted. Child Protection Week is marked to ensure that young people and children are protected from abuse, violation, neglect and exploitation.
According to Eye Witness News, a total of 183 children have been treated by the Child Protection Services at the Red Cross Memorial Children’s hospital in Cape Town alone, since the beginning of 2023. Over 100 of the children are victims of abuse and neglect. It is horrifying to mention that 40% of the children treated at the hospital are aged between 1 and 5 years.
Western Cape Health & Wellness MEC, Nomafrench Mbombo visited the hospital on Child Protection Day on 1 June 2023. The day allowed the staff at the facility to point out operations that were under pressure due to an increased substance abuse and poverty issues. The facility has implemented a Child Protection Improvement Project to ensure that their services remain impactful. This includes the training of all hospital staff to raise awareness and improve skills needed for assessing and managing abuse.
You can judge a society by how it treats its children, and it is no secret that we live in a very unhealthy society. We need to do more and we need to do better. It is everyone’s business to keep our children safe. If you suspect that a child is abused in any way, or that a child is being neglected, you have to report it.
Report the incident(s) to your nearest police station, social worker, church, teacher, parent or anyone that is trustworthy. Do not keep quiet, you can save someone’s life by speaking up and doing the right thing.
Save these important contact numbers to report abuse:
The Department of Social Development has a toll free number where you can speak to a social worker – 0800 428 428. You can also opt to request a social worker to contact you, by dialling *120*7867# from any cellphone.
Childline: 0800 055 555.
Child Welfare South Africa: 011 452 4110 / info@childwelfaresa.org.za
Let’s all stand together against the evil in our communities, it is the only way to eradicate these vulgar deeds.
