Maravi

Namugala urges fathers to take care of families

Namugala urges fathers to take care of families
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Friday May 16, 2008 [04:00]

COMMUNITY development minister Catherine Namugala has urged fathers to cherish society's human unit, the family, by taking care of it. And United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has observed that some fathers inflict domestic violence or even sexual abuse, devastating families and creating profound physical and emotional scars in children.

Commenting on the International Day of Families which fell yesterday under the theme ‘Fathers and Families: Responsibility and Challenges', Namugala urged fathers to ensure that they were involved in all matters pertinent to their families.

"Do not just leave this to the womenfolk. Be involved in family well-being. Where possible, escort your children to the clinic and wife to antenatal clinic, be interested in the children's schoolwork, what they are going to eat and their other needs.

I urge all fathers to play their role. If this nation has to develop, fathers need to stand up and play their role in the family. This is key to sustainable national development of our country," Namugala said.

She said the institution of the family was the first and most important socialising institution where shelter and security were to be found when facing difficulties in life.

Namugala said fathers were crucial to the family members' integration into the community life, especially children.

"The presence of a father is a precondition for a stable family, just as their absence can often cause vulnerability and eventually unstable society. It is only by having stable families that we can create a strong nation," Namugala said.
She said the problem of child delinquency and children taking to the streets was partly a result of the missing role of fathers.

Namugala said although some children had fathers, they were not available to protect and manage the family.

She said the role of fathers had also been faced with a lot of challenges such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which had either left the family vulnerable due to the death or prolonged illness of the bread winner.

Namugala said fathers had also been challenged by unemployment leading to poverty and lack of access to basic needs.

She said on the other hand, some families had been challenged by lack of responsibility by their male head of the house.

"Although certain fathers are in gainful economic activities, they do not take care of their families. Instead they emotionally and physically abuse them," she said.
Namugala called on Zambians to avoid divorce, streetism and child neglect.
She urged the government and non-governmental organisations implementing programmes on the family not to leave out fathers' involvement.

And Ban said many men had difficulty assuming the responsibilities of fatherhood. He said other fathers abandoned their families outright and failed to provide support.

Ban said traditionally, in many societies, fathers had been moral teachers, disciplinarians and breadwinners.

"In many countries, there is now an increased emphasis on the father's role as a co-parent, fully engaged in the emotional and practical day-to-day aspects of raising children," he said.

Ban said this was an opportunity for men to re-envision imaginatively what it meant to be a father and to see opportunities to make a difference in communities.

Ban said at international level, migration forced many fathers to often face separation from their families, consequently being rejected by their children as they grew up.

Labels: FAMILIES

posted by MrK @ 3:47 AM