Protection against child abuse discussed

Lyari, a poverty stricken and overcrowded locality of metropolis appears to have the severest consequence on children belonging to the area - effecting their proper mental, physical and emotional growth.
The fact was highlighted here on Wednesday during a training workshop for local doctors on "Protection and Management of Child Abuse" jointly organised by a local non-government organisation (NGO) "Kounpal" and Paediatrics Department Sindh Government Lyari General Hospital (SGLGH).
Lyari General Hospital Paediatrics Department Head Professor Ayesha Mehnaz speaking at the inaugural of the two-day masters' training workshop said 70 to 80 per cent of children reporting at the paediatrics department - LGH were suffering from severe malnourishment.
The senior child specialist reminding that the situation may not be categorically identified as "Child Abuse" but is a definite reflection of "Neglect" which subtly paved way for abusing any child's rights for quality and dignified existence.
It was reminded that malnourishment was registered to be generally prevalent in 40 per cent of all young children across the country.
Referring to the importance of two day event, she said it was aimed to update knowledge of health care providers who might not only be able to efficiently treat medical conditions but also identify cases of physical and sexual abused children referred to them and necessarily resort to approach with healing effect on concerned kids.
Around 50 doctors participating in the program came forward with their experiences while handling child victims of abuse, reminding that poverty stricken children were also exposed to difficult conditions that were often accepted as tradition meant to discipline.
There had been no less than 135 cases of physical abuse referred at paediatrics department of Lyari General Hospital during last two and a half years period, the doctors said. According to them more than 200 cases of comparatively more serious nature as sodomy etc were reported at Civil Hospital - Karachi during the same period.
They observed with concern that emotional abuse of kids, despite being quite rampant and with severest consequences on entire personality of young victims, is largely overlooked.