By Shaffie Bakali

Mangochi, July 20, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza on Wednesday encouraged men to work collaboratively with their wives as a way of ensuring good welfare and healthy growth for children in their respective homes.

The Minister said this at Chiwaula village, in the area of Senior Chief Katuli in Mangochi district during the official handover ceremony of Chiwaula Community Based Child Centre (CBCC), one of the CBCCs in the district constructed with funding from the World Bank, through the Investing in Early Years Project (IEYP).

She said good welfare of children includes sending them to CBCC, hence opening of the place.

Sendeza encouraged parents to be on forefront ensuring that the place is protected for the benefit of all children in the area.

The minister called on the community members to engage in a strong fight towards ending early marriages, child labour and discrimination of special groups of people such as elderly, handicapped and people with albinism.

"The ministry has launched National Men Engagement Strategy aimed at including our men to take part in all works deemed female dominated and also take a leading role against issues such as Gender Based Violence’s and Sexual Harassment" she said.

Member of Parliament for Mangochi East, Francesca Masamba commended the ministry for its support towards early childhood development, saying this is the only way to go in as far as education is concerned.

She said the newly constructed CBCC in her area will act as a motivation for more children to attend early childhood education.

Chairperson for Mangochi District Council Ivy Sande expressed gratitude to the ministry of gender for uplifting education in Mangochi through infrastructure development.

So far 15 CBCCs have been constructed in Mangochi under the 5 year IEYP which is coming to an end this year.