In Africa of today, myriads of intractable problems ravage
the society. They include internal
crises, insecurity, child slavery, brain-drain, cultism, rape, hunger,
kidnapping, lust, armed robbery, youth restiveness, prostitution,
homosexuality, unemployment, corruption, poverty, disease, currency
devaluation, inflation etc. Of all these
and other societal malaise, the commonest killers are hunger, poverty and
disease. The African child, to say the
least, is the most vulnerable.
The African child becomes a house-boy, maid-servant, slave,
armed robber, street beggar, hemp-smoker, prostitute, kidnapper or
cultist. As a matter of fact, hunger has
disorganised many Nigerian homes,
families and children. The African child, because of poverty, is deprived of
the good things of life namely quality education and medication, good health,
security, shelter, among others. Crimes are the ugly dividends and by-products
of this deprivation as the African child wants to survive. The African child wants to be a parent, a
home-owner. In fact, he or she wants to belong properly in the society.
Child mortality in Africa is high. Death in Africa is mostly caused by
diseases. Typhoid, malaria, yellow fever
among others are caused by bacteria and water borne diseases. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is
the latest of all the death agents besides Ebola Virus Disease. Poverty, unemployment and hunger have lured
many African children into prostitution or child slavery. Unemployment has prodded many girls into the
sex industries.
It is a collective responsibility of all to see that hunger,
poverty and disease are eradicated from the society particularly on the side of
the African child.
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