Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The council of churches in Zambia (CCZ) as implored parents to obtain birth certificates for their children as it is a child’s right.
On Saturday council of churches in Zambia (CCZ) in partnership with United Nations development programme (UNDP) launched children welfare hubs project which will be implemented in Lusaka province.
The project will be hosted BY CCZ members churches namely united church of Zambia-mount olive in Chongwe, reformed church of Zambia in Chawama, reformed church of Zambia in Libala and salvation army in George compound with an objective of building bridges to foster children social welfare and health services in Lusaka.
The project is aimed at establishing of church and community children’s welfare hubs which would act as facilitating unit to monitor and promote basic child services and to create and enhance linkages of the community to main service providers of health, social welfare, and child protection.
CCZ General Secretary, Father Emmanuel Chikoya has noted that birth registration is vital as it enables a child to have truer identity and enhance its right to belong to a family, right to education and universal child protection.
Fr. Chikoya says it is important that every child has a birth certificate as it is a legal document that will protect a child against any violation and abuse.
Fr. Chikoya has emphasized the need for parents should ensure that they get birth certificates for their children for purposes of clear identification as Zambian nationals and help government plan for their needs.
He appealed to parents to take advantage of the registration exercise in order to obtain birth certificates for their children.
Meanwhile CCZ Programme Officer Andisen Zulu says the projects targets to certify close to 10, 000 citizens among Zambians born in the country.
Mr. Zulu has observed that registration of child births among vulnerable groups in society has been poor and attributed this to lack of information on its significance.