Children's Health - Laboni Siddique - Voices - People's Health Movement PHM

Children's Health - Laboni Siddique

President, Kalihati Upzila Shishu Parishad, Tangail narrates the story of her good friend Saleha in the following words:

Saleha is a meritorious girl. She is a member of Surjamukhi Shishu Parishad, Kalihati- children's organization supported by SCF, Australia. She has memorised all the children's rights declared by the United Nations. But she is yet to enjoy those rights. Her family is poor. The father is a sharecropper and mother works in a 'Bidi' (Tobacco) factory. Saleha's elder sister was married at early age. She died during childbirth. Her younger brother has become disabled through a fall from coconut tree while helping a neighbour in harvesting fruits. He works now as a labourer in a 'Bidi' factory, earning Tk. 150-200 a week. Her mother is sick. Saleha has to do all the household works alongwith attending the school.

Once Saleha had severe diarrhoea and it was not improving by home treatment with ORS. Saleha's family had other superstitions and taboo. The believed in Jhar Funk (traditional healing by witch doctors). So, she was also maltreated due to advice of some neighbourer. At some point she developed severe pain in abdomen and she was then admitted to a local hospital. After lot of sufferings for few days she was cured. She became malnourished and doctors advised her to take more and more nutritious food everyday.

Rafiq is also a student of class VIII at Saleha's school. His family lives in the adjacent village. He developed respiratory troubles while his family was in Dhaka and thy have to return to village on doctor's recommendation. The parents of both the families negotiated and got Saleha and Rafiq married. After marriage they hesitated to attend school. More over, there was physical punishment in school and at home. One day, beaten by the father, Rafiq took poison out of shame and died. Saleha become a widow and had to wear white dress and return to her father's family.

With the intervention of a local NGO, Saleha returned to school. But she could not continue it. Poverty forced the parents to give her marriage to a comparatively well off elderly (double of her age) person having wife and two children.

There are many other stories like that of Saleha in Kalihati area. So, the local children with the help of SCF Australia organized themselves and form children's committees. The local children's committee is trying to create awareness on child-related problems in Kalihati area. It has already called the attention of the concerned agencies on the issues like child marriage, malnutrition, worm infestation, capital punishment etc. It has also suggested to utilize the loan money exempted by donors is health sector.

Kalihati Upazila Shishu Parishad recently organized a meeting on "How to improve the situation of children?" Following recommendations have been made in that meeting