MANGO SEASON: MOYO STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR SAFE GUARDING OF CHILDREN

Nuru Primary School Moyo pupils during break time.

By Araba Kalsum

Moyo

Stakeholders in Moyo district are calling upon the community to take charge in safeguarding the school going children against the mango season which comes with threats such as diseases like cholera especially the dirty environments, accidents such as falling from trees and other dangers.  
 
Amoko Ben Juani the deputy head teacher Nuru primary school urged the education department to educate the children on the dangers of involving in improper methods of harvesting mangos.

“As far as mango season is concerned, children get involved in accidents during the season, if we don’t control the children properly especially during break times and lunch times, it will be a hard thing. Some children will not even reach home at lunch time they branch for mangoes and more so climb up at times those who cannot climb throw stones at the mangoes which in most cases causes accidents and injuries. So my message to my colleague teachers is that, we should constantly remind the children about the dangers of throwing mangoes, climbing mango trees and if they wish so at least let elders help them. This way it would be better and we will reduce accidents while harvesting mangoes during this season,” said Juani

In the same way, Sirgent Inyala John Francis the acting officer in-charge Moyo sub-county warned the road users mostly the drivers to be careful while on the road to protect the children along the road sides who come to pick mangoes.

“This being a mango season we must take rules of driving and riding as road users we should drive in a proper way to safe guard our people.  Many children are getting accidents some are injured others die because you drive carelessly you end up knocking these young kids on the road not only the children even the elders who come to pick mangoes on the road side you find that whatever they do is not right the children may be playing on the road as well so we must be careful while driving or riding on the road,” Inyala Emphasized.

However Mali Michael the district education officer advised the parents and learners about their health during this mango season.

“Mangoes perhaps are good fruits they are rich in vitamin C and help us in having a well-protected body, however we should consume mangoes with a lot of care. Am aware that, in many homes, some parents do not prepare meals for the learners at lunch break and now many of the learners are taking advantage of the presence of the mangoes to enjoy and be active in school. There are mangoes I see, our children defecate under mangoes, while the fruits that fall under the trees are picked without washing or cleaning and they are eaten. Mangoes consumed this way can cause more problems for the stomach you can have diarrhea which you can get from the dirty environment so I advise learners, teachers and parents to make sure mangoes are always washed clean before they are eaten,” Mali advised.

In the past seasons, reports show a number of children were involved in mango related accidents during the season hence affecting learning processes.