Radio discussion on the situation of children in Balkh province, Afghanistan (23 September 2013)

Objective: To enhance the awareness of people on children health, education and employment status in Balkh Province and to influence decision making bodies on provision of quality access to basic services Estimated number of Listeners: Approximately 11000 Date of aired: On September 10, 16 and 23 and repeated next days of each in the Dehdadid and Kholm districts of Balkh Province including Mazar-e Sharif city. Participants: • Hafiza Jan, Child Rights Expert, AIHRC District Dehdadi Balkh Province • Sayed Ashraf, Child Rights Expert, AIHRC District Khulm Balkh Province • Salamat Azimi, Child Rights Expert, AIHRC Mazar-e Sharif Balkh Province • Madeha Aroj, member of youth groups, District Kholm District Balkh Province • Mohammad Ehsan Mohammadi member of youth group District Dehdadi Balkh Province • Hasan Ali Sadid, member of youth group, Mazar-e Sharif of Balkh Province. Discussion Main points:
a. How do you evaluate the situation of the children in your area? b. How is the children’s access to the health services in your area? c. Did the government provide the adequate services for the children to meet their needs? d. What trainings provide for children in your area? Summary of Discussion: According to the speeches of the participants, the situation of children is better than neighboring provinces in general but, there were some problems such as hard child laboring and presence of unwanted traditions which causes children not to go schools or receiving health care facilities. There are no enough health care centers for the children and they suffer from undrinkable waters and they need to pass long ways to reach a clinic or health centers in some villages. They also say that there is no special health care center for children in the districts. They said that the government has been providing education and health services but the children still don’t have access to green grounds for their entertainment and sport issues especially in the districts. The Youth Group representatives call all government and non-government offices to pay attention on the situation of children to better training, providing them with better education and preventing them to follow a wrong way.