Ubumbano VoiceRead More
By Rashidah Matandika
There is a great concern among HIV and AIDS stakeholders on the insecurities that children of women in sex work are facing as most parents who are into the business staying in rest houses are staying with their little ones.
The concern was raised during an interactive meeting between HIV and AIDS stakeholders and the National Aids Commission where it was noted that these places are not conducive for the growth of kids as there are loud music and the children tend to watch and witness what their mothers do which in the end will appeal to them as being a normality for life.
Speaking in response to the concern, Harvey Limwado, CDC project coordinator at NAC said the concern is genuine as such places are not for kids and said they will look into the problem and plan on what can be done to rescue them.
‘Children are impressionable, they are at a learning phase in their life so whatever they see they assimilate them into their life and think that that is how life should be, now if you expose a child for two to three years to such behavior they will grow to believe that the world is like that. Again children are under the protection of the law so we have to also make sure that the mothers are not breaking it by keeping them in such places so we are planning to find a way that will help these women not to keep their children in their work places.”
Limwado called for coordination in rescuing the kids from such environment even if it means during the day only whereby they can be kept in schools. However such an initiative according to the district social welfare officer Nellie Kumalele requires funding as it will involve having a proper structure for a learning environment, food as well as a care taker who will need payment.
Limwado said if these women are given business chances and trained in village savings and loans groups the children can be saved.
Another group that needs rescue is the group of young girls who are into the business from the rural areas.
