NW Perm Sec Katambi urges authorities to bridge gap between rural/urban children

North Western province Permanent Secretary Col Grandson Katambi has urged authorities in the ministry of Community Development and Social Services to develop deliberate policies that will bridge the gap between rural and urban children.

Col Katambi says this is because in most cases, most policies favor children in urban communities than those in rural areas.

He says this will help in enlightening children in rural communities so that they are growing with knowledge at almost the same level with children in urban set up.

The Permanent Secretary was speaking when Director of Child Development in the ministry of Community Development and Social Services Bridget Moya called on him in Solwezi.

He also observed that most programs especially those aimed at improving the welfare of children are only implemented in urban areas.

He said it is unfortunate that even authorities in the implementation f the programs do not reach far-flung areas but only focus on urban areas.

“So, I would like to recommend that when you come in a province like North western, we would like to see you reaching as far as Nyatanda, Nguvu, Kayombo, Mapunga among other deep rural areas where such services are hardly offered,” he said.

And Ms Moya revealed that her ministry is undertaking a program on child development and welfare across the country.

She said under child welfare, government is providing services to children who have not been able to access basic services.

“This is why we have realigned the department of child development from the ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development to our ministry were child welfare services are provided,” she said.

She mentioned that with the child Code Act in place, it has codified all child focused legislation.