WINDHOEK – First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba says parents should adopt a culture of speaking to their children about relationship and how to be responsible citizens at a tender age.
Speaking off the cuff at the start of the opening session of the ‘2nd Rural Women’s Parliament with Male Partners’ yesterday in Windhoek, she said doing that would help to reduce the problems of baby dumping and suicide that are confronting the nation. She said no woman should ever feel that her prospects are so limited that her only option is to sell her body, commit suicide or dump her infant. “Every baby that is dumped in Namibia is a destiny that has been destroyed, a precious life lost forever,” Pohamba said. Speaking passionately about solving these societal problems, the first lady said all efforts should start in the parental home. According to her some parents do not tell their children “the whole truth” about relationships, menstruation and how to treat women until puberty when they start exploring with their bodies and fall pregnant in the case of the girl child or impregnate a girl in the case of a boy child. “We don’t tell our children the whole truth. We don’t start when they are very young,” the visibly concerned first lady said.
She also touched on the importance of introducing children to responsible relatives or friends to approach in their time of need in case the children are not comfortable with speaking to their own parents about issues bothering them. “We mostly like to blame without educating the child and sometimes we blame when it is too late,” she said, adding that correct information should be provided to parents to know about the availability of government support and how to access it. “Unplanned pregnancies can be very problematic, especially for young girls who need constant guidance, love and support,” said the First lady. Pohamba also called on men to support their expectant partners and to shoulder their fair share of parental responsibilities. “This would ensure that every child receives love and protection from an early age,” Pohamba added. The concerned first lady also did not hide her sentiments on the increase of suicides in the country. “As a mother, every time I read or hear about young people killing themselves my heart gets torn into pieces,” she said.
By Alvine Kapitako