Prevention and early intervention programme a priority for BCW
The Boksburg Child Welfare will be focusing on prevention and early intervention programme Vikela Okuthandayo (protect what you love) to avert the abandonment of children and babies.
According to the director of the Boksburg Child Welfare, Vanessa Naidoo-Pillay, the organisation has identified a need to render these programmes.
“Consideration has been given to conduct prevention programmes for teenagers and incorporating young adults who may be at risk and lack family support. Education around various other social problems, which could manifest, such as alcoholism and narcotics abuse together with mental health issues that may be passed through genetics will be focused on. The organisation has seen an increase in babies born with foetal alcohol syndrome and diagnosed mental health problems in toddlers, which was later established to be inherited.
“Through community profiling, we have been able to establish a programme for at-risk pregnant mothers or new mothers who lack support from their family and who may abandon their babies either at a hospital or at a later stage in the community due to circumstances.
“This early intervention service will provide support and link these mothers to resources to prevent their babies from vulnerable circumstances.
“The social service staff have identified that there is also a need to provide essential resources for the care of a baby and to help and educate mothers on utilising these essential items. A holistic approach to antenatal and postnatal care will be taken and other professionals will be incorporated into the programme,” said Naidoo-Pillay.
She highlighted in November, the organisation conducted a successful antenatal and postnatal three-day workshop in Reiger Park where expecting and new mothers were able to discuss their fears and anxiety, receive therapy and adequate support and parenting skills together with baby essentials to assist them.
“Furthermore, we conducted teenage pregnancy awareness programmes in Villa Liza and Vosloorus where both genders were invited to be educated about the benefits of abstaining from sex and their rights to contraceptives and the responsibilities that follow thereafter. This year, we will be extending the programme throughout Villa Liza, Boksburg Central and Vosloorus,” the director added.
She expressed her gratitude to Intertek Genalysis South Africa, adding this initiative would not be possible without funding received from the company.
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