Joseph Edegbo
Kaduna (Nigeria) — As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2017 International Orphans Day, founder of a Non – governmental organisation in Nigeria, ”Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children” Ramatu Tijjani has called for peace and stability in Africa as a panacea to orphans .
She also tasks parents to adopt children in other to reduce the large number of orphans on the continent.
Speaking with newsmen in Kaduna, north west Nigeria, Ramatu said, African Union, United Nations, and all Humanitarian organisations, peace mediators, Religious organisations, Traditional leaders, civil societies and youth organisations across the continent should join hands together in tackling all forms of insecurity challenges bordering peace and stability in the region.
These challenges include terrorism, tribal War, ethno-religious and political clashes, farmers and herdsmen conflicts which she noted were contributing in turning more women to widows and children becoming orphans.
Ramatu said the world is full of orphaned children, but there are millions more at risk of becoming orphans in the future and majority of the world’s orphans live in poor communities, where lack of opportunities creates instability, war, disease and family breakdown .
The Activist noted that throughout the world, the orphan crisis affects children in many ways that have a direct physical impact on their lives, while the medical challenges facing children who have been orphaned could be malnutrition, parasitic infections, and HIV/AIDS.
“Additionally, children who fall outside the advocacy of a family are often also negatively impacted in regards to medical care. In many cases, medical resources are outside their reach. Children who have experienced early attachment injuries may also experience developmental delays, struggle with a failure to thrive, and/or experience attachment challenges.
“The gift of receiving the love and nurture best provided through secure family attachments is the best way to bring healing and restore the child’s physical, mental, and emotional health,” she said.
According to her, majority of African orphanages, especially in Sub-saharan Africa appear to be funded by donors, volunteer individuals, Groups, rather than by domestic governments.
Ramatu called on philanthropists, corporate bodies ,governments, NGOs and Civil society organisations as well as volunteer groups to also remember celebrating the World International Orphans Day with Internally displaced children IDPs kids, or the destitute children, so as to show them love and care.
She suggested many ways of identifying with orphans such as donating delicious food, toys, clothes educational materials, assurance of legal support, tips for life and health skills, visit orphanage homes and deliver an Inspiring speech, spending quality time and apprenticeship materials to make them skilled.
Others are, coding for orphans, language development programme, take care of Orphanages/ shelter houses, encouraging sponsors to focus on underprivileged children and to encourage orphans’ adoption to reduce stigmatisation.
