By: James Kamara-Manneh
The Chinese Ambassador Wang Qing together with Minister of Social Welfare & Children Affairs Madam Bendu Gassama Kamara has over the weekend visited the Network For Children in Need in Freetown ahead of Children’s Day.
The visit was geared towards two aspects-donations and free medical treatments for all children in the home as part of Warm Children’s Heart: A China-Africa Joint Action. A project initiated by the First Lady of the People’s Republic of China Prof Peng Liyuan.
Speaking at the program, Ambassador Qing said Children represent the future and the hope of a nation and its development. In recent years. He further thanked the continuous efforts of the international community, national governments and civil society, the global endeavour to promote the rights of children. He called for collective work to achieve a needed objective.
He said China attaches great importance to the protection of the rights of children, both domestically and internationally. China has about 280 million children, among the countries with the largest child population.
“We have worked relentlessly to advocate and put into practice the principle of children first by drafting and implementing three successive National Plans of Action for Child Development in an effort to fulfil the commitment of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its relevant Protocols,” Amb. Qing narrates.
He added that in recent times, a series of important measures have been taken, including projects to improve the nutrition of children in poverty and the three-year program of action on preschool education, to better safeguard the rights of children.
He revealed that Professor Peng Liyuan, wife of H.E. President Xi Jinping, has always cared for African women, children and youths. In 2020, during the special period of fighting Covid-19, Professor Peng advocated donating several batches of anti-epidemic supplies and vaccines to African women, children and youths, vividly illustrating the sincere friendship between China and Africa for shared destiny and mutual assistance.
Today, on the occasion of International Children’s Day, Professor Peng has proposed an initiative “Warm Children’s Hearts: A China-Africa Joint Action” together with the Organization of African First Ladies for Development, hoping to convey warmth and care to the children and help them to grow up healthy and happy. He further appreciated the hard work of Sierra Leone’s First Lady Madam Fatima Bio who also initiated the free Sanitary Pad for girls and Hand off our Girls Project which has benefited millions of girl children to live a safe and healthy life in the country.
He concluded by making a promise that China will continue to uphold the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, work closely with Sierra Leone, and strengthen cooperation in various fields so that more people will benefit.
The Minister of Social Welfare and Children Affairs, Madam Bendu Gassama Kamara applauded the kind gestures from the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone to have answered their request for help.
She narrated the smooth relationship that has been permeating between her Ministry and the Embassy and vouched to continue working together to achieve the right aim.
Madam Gassama Kamara also applauded to the Chinese Medical team for such a brilliant initiative in giving free medical treatment to all the children in the orphanage home. She further called on the children to be studious in their academic pursuits if only they want to become the Leaders of tomorrow. Even though the Ministry is mandated to care for everyone’s social affairs, the Minister said she has been experiencing some constraints as all cannot be catered for at the same time.
She called on the Chinese Embassy through the present Ambassador to continue supporting her ministry in diverse ways possible.
Whereas, the owner of the Network for Children in Need Orphanage Home, Mrs Ina Mariam Kamaraappreciated the gestures and visitation of the Chinese Embassy and its Medical Team for choosing her home out of the lots. She said she felt blessed for such kindness and called on other embassies and organizations to follow the pathway of the Chinese Embassy.
Stating some of her challenges facing the orphanage home, she disclosed that the home is on an annual rent of twenty million Leone and called on kindhearted people or organizations to come to her aid. She mentioned also about feeding and clothing the children without a parent has been a difficult task for her over the years.
In the end, all the kids received a gift and free medical treatments from the medical team ahead of Children’s Day come June 1st 2023.
