DOVVSU records 1,115 child neglect cases in Central Region
The Central Region office of the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit (DOVVSU) last year recorded a total of 2,305 domestic violence cases.
Out of the number, a total of 1,115 child neglect cases were recorded with physical assault being 525 cases.
Mrs Hilda Akarimanga, Second in Command of the Central Region Office of DOVVSU, announced this at a forum organised by the Central Region branch of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health in Cape Coast, at the weekend.
The forum was to among others come out with a Memorandum of Understanding between the media and the Coalition to initiate programmes and projects to enhance health care delivery in the region.
It was attended by a number of NGOs, including Cheerful Hearts Foundation, Hope for Future Generations and institutions like the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service and media organisations.
The Coalition, which has a total membership of more than 40, has in collaboration with the GHS engaged in activities such as preventive health care delivery in all the 17 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Region.
Mrs Akarimanga said a total of 140 defilement cases were also recorded last year, with threat of death cases numbering 111. There were 29 rape cases while child stealing was the least with only three cases.
She expressed concern about the high cases of child neglect in the Region, which she stressed had resulted in increased teenage pregnancies and streetism.
Mr Bright Amissah-Nkarko, Regional Chairman of the Coalition, said the main target of the coalition was to collaborate with other partners, particularly the media, to ensure that sexual reproductive health rights and issues were effectively addressed.
He pointed out that that the Region was saddled with a number of health issues and so the Coalition had embarked on a number health programmes such as workshops on maternal and child health care, non-communicable diseases, right based advocacy, as well as immunization campaigns to educate the public on their health needs.
Souce: GNA