Women have a greater task to accomplish in curbing child abuse.  Mothers are the ones who nurture and groom their offsprings and wards whether biological children or adopted.
It is necessary that any child who falls under the supervision of a mother, must be accounted for by that woman.
Shaping the life of a child depends so much on the mother even if certain percentage of care is being expected from a father.  The mother starts nurturing a child from age zero till the adolescent stage.  She should always do a follow-up at every stage of development of a child in her care.
Within the period of the growth, if there are negative tendencies exhibited by the child, the mother should be able to identify before the child goes to school. This is because the child starts learning from the home.
When you talk about child abuse, it starts from the home and the way every child is treated matters a lot.
The menace called child abuse is something that every hand must be on deck to ensure its eradication in the society. The major agent of eradication is the mother.
There are various forms of child abuse. You may discover that at every form of the menace,  the woman is involved and should be held responsible for its consequences.
Of course, it is clear that child abuse does not have any positive impact on the society except the perpetrators of the act who gain from it. Some persons derive joy in seeing either their own child or another’s child being denied their rights and accomplishing their own goals.
According to United Nations Children Fund, (UNICEF) in 1989, child abuse is the portion of harm to children that results from human action or inaction  that is proscribed, proximate and preventable.
The African Network for the Prevention or Protection against Child Abuse or Neglect (ANPPCAN), looked at child abuse as the intentional, unintentional or well-intentional act, which endangers the physical, health, emotional, moral and the educational welfare of the child.
Broadly, it means maltreatment of a child. Any form of action that brings about physical, mental, psychological and social torture to the child.
When you talk about child labour, which includes buying and selling most times, a woman will intentionally send out the child for hawking with the aim of making money. A situation where a woman’s children will be in school and she finds pleasure in sending a house help out, portends danger to that child.
A woman should not send an adopted child out to the neighbourhood alone to fetch water when her own children are idle because her role is to protect every child in her care, whether biological or not.
When you talk about child trafficking, apart from when children are in school, the mother should be aware of the location of the child at every time. Monitoring the children should be the watchword of every committed mother. When a woman is careless about the whereabouts of the child, that child can be picked up from any location without her knowledge.
A woman should not express anger on anything the child does at home.   A child/ward can be corrected for wrong doing without being battered.  It has been discovered in some homes that child battering has led to death or deformity of some children. A mother should know the kind of punishment a child deserves for correction.
Some women neglect their children by sending them to others for lack of basic needs.  Every responsible woman should be able to have the number of children she can cater for.  While the child is in another woman’s house, no one knows how many meals he or she takes in a day.
Sending a child out for hawking, especially a female, signals danger to the girl.  That is a simple way of exposing her to sexual abuse.  Some irresponsible persons with the pretence of buying something from her can lure her into unnecessary sexual abuse.  The danger in that is that it can lead to unwanted pregnancy,  contraction of STDs and HIV/AIDS.
Most rape cases that have been recorded are as a result of sending a girl out to hawk.
There is no harm in asking children to assist in selling, so as to meet up in the home, but if they are to sell in a kiosk no matter how little it may be, a mother can monitor the children there.
A mother should know that giving a child under the age of 18 out for marriage is an abuse. Women must nurture the children to maturity before sending them out because the dangers of underage marriage are devastating. When an underage girl is given out for any reason for marriage, do not forget that any consequences that arise from that will still fall back to the mother.
A mother should not send her child or ward out for prostitution in order to make money.
Parents and guardians, especially mothers, should be more educated and more awareness be created on why they should pay more attention to their children and wards.

By: Eunice Choko-Kayode

The importance of breastfeeding can never be over-emphasized to babies, mothers, family and the society at large.
Breastfeeding protects infants against infections and reduces the risk of contracting diseases. It also reduces the cost of healthcare expenses because the baby does not fall sick easily due to high immunity.
One of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding if practised by nursing mothers is that it protects women from ovarian cancer. The benefits are so numerous that one cannot ignore.
Despite these benefits and more, some nursing mothers do not have the wherewithal to practice that perfectly.
The truth is that nursing mothers must feed well to be able to breastfeed a sucking infant. Balance diet is involved while three-square meal must be available. But poverty and high cost of living are impediments.
Government at all levels and stakeholders in the health sector have developed a lot of policies that will assist women in that respect considering the enormous benefits but much has not been achieved.
Nursing mothers were allowed three-month maternity leave. But they are supposed to breastfeed exclusively for six months.
Not to long, the period was extended to six months. Such policy that supports exclusive breastfeeding should be encouraged and implemented to the fullest.
There should be enough parental leave for father and mother to ensure that the child is well nurtured. Government should ensure that there are breastfeeding breaks for working
mothers and their husbands.
At the level of development we find ourselves, some organisations do not allow nursing mothers to take their babies to their offices.
Allowing them a time to go and breastfeed their babies is a problem. As soon as some female employees have new born and proceed on maternity leave, that’s the end of that job.
Nursing mothers cannot be denied paid-employed jobs that will enable them earn a living because they are making babies and have other bills to settle.
According to UNICEF, the health, social and economic benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child are well-established and are acceptable the world over.
The report said that about 60 per cent of the world’s infants are denied the recommended three or six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
The report has it that, four out of 10 babies are breastfed exclusively, showing 40 per cent representation globally.
It is disheartening to hear some reports in the local communities, where some mothers give flimsy excuses.
It is difficult to see mothers who breastfeed babies up to eight months. It has been reported most of them have financial problems.
Some of the mothers interviewed said they cannot practised exclusive breastfeeding since they don’t feed adequately.
Some said that if they practice exclusive breastfeeding, that their breasts will slack and change shape. They believe that standing breasts make them look trendy, then prefer to use baby formula or artificial milk to feed their babies.
Mrs Ruth Akoye, who works in private business organisation complained that she stopped exclusive breastfeeding after two months to enable her resume work, otherwise she would be sacked.
She said there was no other option rather than introducing artificial milk.
Mrs Anita Umeh, prepares roasted bole and yam. She said: “Is it not when you feed very well that you can breastfeed exclusively?”
According to her, they teach us in the anti-natal clinic, but I cannot practise it because I cannot sit at home for money to come. Since I don’t have enough money to eat well, I bought baby-milk for my child to enable me gain some strength to do my business
A hair dresser, Mrs Uche Amos said only her first child, out of three enjoyed exclusive breastfeeding.
She said while nursing her second child, she became less interested about the policy and complained that her baby was always crying.
Mrs Amos alleged that neighbours were accusing her of starving the baby.
This infact, is one of the major problems in the society, some persons are of the opinion that the baby, who is exclusively breastfed does not get enough and should be introduced to baby formula and water to support the mother.
When some persons come across infants that are exclusively breastfed and they cry, they attribute it to hunger.
It is important to note that a child who is exclusively breastfed is healthier than the one that takes man-made milk. The condition can never be the same. When it comes to intelligence, the difference is clear.
A private school teacher, Mrs Amanda, said she could not continue exclusive breastfeeding for her baby due to the fact that she had to resume her teaching job within three months.
She lamented that it limited her time with the baby and the natural milk the baby would have enjoyed.
A business trader, Mrs Ijeoma Akpan, said her baby’ s joy to breast milk which she would have enjoyed was cut short because her breast milk refused to flow.
Nursing mothers need support and should be granted such requests.
Organisations, both public and private should create and establish creche in their offices where nursing mothers can keep their babies in the custody of caregivers while they breastfeed as the job is being done.

By: Eunice Choko-Kayode

The world over, the girl Child is being celebrated annually not just because of her importance, but because of her peculiar nature. The girl child is a female specie in the family that is faced with many life challenges.
Girl children need care and should be celebrated even on a daily basis. Every good parent should not wait until the recommended date to commemorate the “International Day of the Girl-Child” in a year before the girl is celebrated.
Every good parenting rests solely on the mother.  The mother is the female parent in a family.  Good parenting practices must be showcased by women in homes.
Bringing up the girlchild in the right way requires understanding the girl’s developmental stages.  Choice of best styles of parenting tips is very important and effective use of the tips are also important.
Women should not be very authoritative when dealing with the girlchild. Deal with her in a manner that you allow her  express herself.
Permitting her to attend programmes that are not just religious but  programmes that will assist her in other life endeavours.
A mother should be involved in the activities of the girl child.  Find out what she does on the computer and hand phones (pinging).
A mother can never neglect her girlchild due to misunderstanding no matter how serious that issue may be.  She is still your child.  That mother/child bond must be maintained.
We are talking about the adolescent age, where the girl has started realising what life is about.  At this stage, self-esteem  comes in. If the parent does not provide most of the needs of the girlchild, she may be tempted to start looking outside for assistance.  That ego that she is getting mature is definitely going to be there.
There are pretty things she needs for upkeep.  The choice of perfumery/toiletries comes in here. It is important that her undies are made available especially when the “monthly visitor” arrives.  A mother must move a step further to ensure that her girl is clean.
At this stage, she may be a student without purchasing power.  This is one of the greatest problems she has which the opposite sex does not.  If it is a family that finds it difficult to have three-square meal per day, it exposes her to danger.
Disciplining the girl-child should be consistent, do not skip days and weeks and must be limited. Excess of it may not work well in her life.
As women, do not spend all the time on work and business and get the best result from them.
According to a child psychologist, the greatest problem in good parenting is time factor.  If women give more time to their female children, they will be free from STDs, HIV/AIDs and unwanted pregnancy.
At the adolescent stage,  communication must be prioritised. A mother should be able to identify the problems associated with the age, sit her down and teach the dos and don’ts of the game. There must be effective communication between the mother and daughter since they are of the same sex. This is very important because there is a limit to a discussion between a father and daughter.
The girl-child deserves to be listened to and every mother must be a good listener. If you do not listen carefully to your child, it can lead to communication breakdown.
Flexibility in the kind of decisions taken as a mother is important. In nurturing the adolescent girl, a mother should be  willing to adjust her parenting styles.
Mothers should bear in mind that the femalechild has the right to be born well and wants to have a wholesome family life.  She wants to be raised well to become a contributing member of the home and the society at large.
When you interact with them sometimes, you hear the kind of beautiful lives they want to live and achievements in future.   These can only manifest when the girl is put on the right path. The girl children dream big when the foundation is strongly built.
Basic needs of food, clothing and in fact, basic education are very important if our girls have to be comfortable. Sometimes, you hear them grumbling if their needs are not available.
It we must get it right, the female children must play when necessary and enjoy their youth.  We must protect them from danger because they are endangered species. When she falls into a prey, unwanted pregnancy can occur, so that is the reason why they must live in a peaceful and productive environment.
They must be cared for.  Freedom is very important but to an extent.
A mother must continue to nurture the girlchild till she becomes a woman. Nurturing should not be at the adolescent stage we are celebrating annually but should start from birth through infancy, pre-school age to the adolescent stage.
At the crucial age of 11-18, even up to 20 years, the girl needs to be under parental authority as against her own wish.
In this era of higher need of academic pursuit and technology, the girl must excel.  The girlchild must be moulded so as to be able to represent the parents well wherever she may find herself.
There are certain traits mothers need to know which manifest at the adolescent age. Some call it tempting age.  In a family where everyone goes to church together or in a family car, but the adolescents in the house will like to go alone to church.  A child who gets ready for school at 7am, suddenly stays in the bedroom till 7:30am and stands at the mirror for a couple of minutes and gets ready by 8am.  That shows that maturity is setting in with a lot of changes.
A good mother has to be calm, loving and caring considering that it is a stage of contradiction of likes and dislikes, hate, love, fear and trust.  If the foundation laid by mothers at the zero stage is solid, there will be mutual understanding.
Mothers must be careful at this stage because their reactions to changes may stop or hinder the girl or cause withdrawal.  The girlchild may also decide to run out of home.  In this case, mothers should use love to bring them back to reasoning because they become irrational sometimes.
When they begin to keep peers, mother must know whom their friends are.  Although it is a team work for both parents, mothers should play prominent role because they are supreme in the girlchild’s upbringing.
The mother’s lifestyle plays an important role in the child’s life, so, teaching them sex education early especially with technology available is crucial. With this, you create intimacy.
A woman should take it as a priority to let the girl know the reason why she should cover her sensitive parts of her body to avoid rape which may lead to unwanted pregnancy.

By: Eunice Choko -Kayode