THIRTY ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coastal Battalion were sensitised about the dangers of child neglect at a recent welfare education seminar.

It was conducted at the Battalion Headquarters last Thursday and is part of a series being conducted by the Welfare Department across the GDF.
The facilitator was Child Protection Specialist, Ms. Erania Yaw, who lectured participants on the issue, telling them that, in many instances, child neglect is often overlooked and not treated as a serious matter.
That is unless and until public reports about a child who has suffered some form of abuse or is involved in criminal behaviour surfaces, she said.
She pointed out that child neglect has short and long-term effects for the individuals who suffer such treatment and their families.
Yaw said the effects are also felt throughout the society when, suicides, rapes, murders, robberies and other forms of crime and deviant behaviour occur and it is important to understand what child neglect is and why it must be prevented at all costs.
She continued: “I am happy that the Guyana Defence Force is educating its ranks about such matters. In serving Guyana, you soldiers often spend long periods away from your families. This puts some strain on familial relations and, therefore, it is critical that you understand all aspects of this issue today. Once you are armed with the information and understand what steps need to be taken, you are then empowered to act to ensure there is stability in your family life.”
Yaw acknowledged that child neglect could be deliberate or unintentional and occurs on three main levels, physical, emotional and educational.
She explained that physical neglect is the “silent killer of children and youth.”
“It occurs when a child’s need for food, clothing, shelter, cleanliness, education, medical care and protection from harm are not adequately met.”
Yaw encouraged the soldiers to pay attention and report instances of child neglect as it is their moral duty to do so.
She cautioned them: “Your failure to act or do something when you know a child is being neglected can lead to dire consequences for that child as he or she develops into adulthood. Taking action to remove the child from the environment of neglect or to enhance the quality of life for that child will often result in a positive outcome for the child and the society.”

Full understanding
Yaw also challenged the group to gain a full understanding of who is a child and be on the lookout, either with their own children or those with whom they make contact, for signs that “things are not well.”
Among other things she said they must be aware of the impacts of neglect and the physical and behavioural indicators which are usually present in instances where children are being neglected.
“Problems with learning, poor toilet habits, listlessness, chronic hunger, crying easily, inability to concentrate, withdrawal from others and nervous mannerisms are some problem issues that children deal with. They display behaviours such as squinting, chronic tiredness, aggression, self-mutilation, suicide attempts and vandalism and seek to run away from home,” she related.
The soldiers’ main expectation was to learn something new and gain a proper understanding of the issue and, to their credit, they were quite involved during the exercise, sharing stories, giving opinions and asking questions in their desire to learn.
Apart from learning about the cycle of abuse and neglect, they gained an appreciation for what children needed for proper physical, emotional, educational and spiritual development, a release said after.
It said they expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the programme and indicated that the information gained was quite enlightening and useful.
The release said welfare education seeks to create awareness amongst ranks about various issues which impact their personal and professional lives and was also meant to provide them with interactive learning on social development issues towards enhancing their knowledge of life and developing the capacity to make informed and proper decisions when confronted with various challenges.
The statement said the GDF will continue to engage its ranks in this manner in order to strengthen their capability for enhanced professional performance.