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Organisations championing improved welfare of the adolescence and street kids has called for an audit to come up with street children statistics in Zambia.
Beautiful Gates believes having updated data on a number of street children will assist in designing long lasting interventions.
Bill Kapinga, the organisation‘s executive director, insisted that availability of an updated number of street children is critical in addressing the rampant streetism.
It was cumbersome to determine the impact or progress being made towards addressing the challenges of the children due to the absence of updated information.
He said the organization remains committed to partnering with the government and other stakeholders to improve the welfare of the children found on streets.
Kapinga asked the Zambian government to consider carrying out an audit on the number of street children in the country.
It was difficult currently to ascertain how much is being done towards their welfare as we don’t know how many we have.
“Knowing the number will help us find solutions on how stakeholders can join hands to support them in their daily needs,” he said.
Kapinga added that the church should also develop practical measures aimed at addressing the challenges the children were facing.
He said the church plays an important role in supplementing governments efforts therefore it should consider getting on board to address the plight of the children.
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The Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) is also concerned about drug abuse by young people in Zambia.
Copperbelt Province coordinator Sharon Chisanga was worried about the way youths are abusing substances such as alcohol and drugs.
Chisanga wanted local authorities in Zambia to intensify regulating the production of locally brewed beer.
Councils and other law enforcement agencies should inspect places brewing different brands of beer.
She said there was a need to check the percentage of alcohol that was contented.
Ms Chisanga said people who were in the business of brewing beer should be given guidance so that the health of the consumers was not endangered.
She observed that the youths are putting their health at risk because the beer that was being produced has high alcohol content.
“The local authorities should inspect places that brew beer and give proper guidance to the businesses because the number of youths who are abusing these substances has continued to increase,” Chisanga stated.
The organisation looks forward to intensified awareness programmes on the effects of substance abuse.
She said it was unfortunate that youths below the age of 18 have access to alcohol and other harmful substances.
Chisanga said this this was because the market is not being regulated as expected.
She said law enforcers should work in tandem so as to curb alcohol abuse among others.
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