DISTRICT CONSULTATIONS REPORTS CHAPTER 2: Recommendations ? The government should ensure easy and affordable access to birth registration. CHILD HEADED FAMILIES Challenges ? Child headed families are prone to emotional, physical and psychological abuse. They live as puppets or slaves as they try to make ends meet. Some of the children are too young to live on their own. ? The relatives are not assisting them with food. Recommendations ? It is not safe for children in child headed homes to stay by themselves. They should be taken to children`s homes where their needs are catered for. The government should build more homes to accommodate these children. ? The relatives of these children should provide them with food assistance. DISCRIMINATION Challenges ? Our culture has played a role towards discrimination of children. Children can only speak when they are spoken to. ? Children who are physically challenged face discrimination at school and at home. Recommendations ? Children should not be excluded in making decisions and be given an opportunity to participate. ? The government should provide for the disabled children who need all the care especially in school. SHORTAGE OF FOOD Challenges ? Shortage of food at home. Recommendations ? The government and parents should be able to provide food for children at home and at school. This can be achieved by the government providing seeds, fertilizers and equipment so that parents are able to cultivate and feed their children. HEALTH Challenges ? There is a shortage of nurses and drugs at the few hospitals and clinics available. ? Some religious practices do not allow children to be immunized. Recommendations ? The government should pay the doctors well so that they will not go on strike. Nurses and doctors should be available everyday to help the sick. More hospitals should be built where children can access free medication. ? Chiefs should encourage parents to immunize their children in the communities. EDUCATION Challenges ? Most parents cannot afford the high fees being charged in schools. This has affected the orphans more who do not have parents or relatives to pay school fees for them. ? The schools have no textbooks; children are sharing one text book per five or more children. Recommendations ? Education should be free such that every child will be in school or at least the government should finance the education of orphans. ? The government should supply textbooks, pens and writing books in schools. CHILD PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS Children's consultations CONSOLIDATED REPORT 29