The Zomba District Social Welfare Office has advised stakeholders in child protection in the districts to align their activities with the recently released seasonal weather forecast to ensure children are protected from the potential impacts of El Niño.
The call was made during a quarterly meeting of the Child Protection Technical Working Group for Zomba District held recently.
Speaking on behalf of the District Social Welfare Officer for Zomba District Council, Assistant Social Welfare Officer, Francis Futu, advised members to ensure that children are protected from the impacts of El Niño, which could affect their well-being and education.
“Partners need to plan accordingly to ensure that their activities are focusing on children’s well-being,” Futu said.
Concurring with Futu, Project Manager for Resilience Economic Development in Zomba, McPherson Kapalamula, said El Niño could have long-lasting impacts on families, including hunger, which may contribute to early marriages, school dropouts and other challenges.
Kapalamula also said the season is expected to be characterised by heat waves, which could affect children’s health and education.
He noted that young children may struggle to walk in such harsh conditions.
“We need to create awareness among families so that they are prepared by following climate-smart agricultural practices that will help them harvest enough food to sustain their families,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zomba District Council has developed an Early Action Plan in preparation for the season.
