Biteko urges families to prioritise child welfare

MWANZA: DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, has urged parents across Tanzania to promote mutual understanding and cooperation in raising their children, stressing that children form the bedrock of both families and the nation.

Representing Vice-President Dr Philip Mpango at the International Day of Families commemorated in Mwanza on Saturday, Dr Biteko stressed the importance of valuing children as precious individuals in need of care, guidance and protection.

“A child is the product of two parents. Therefore, it is essential that both play their roles. If we continue to neglect them, we risk raising a society without a strong foundation,” he said.

This year’s theme highlights the critical role of nurturing children to build strong families and a stable nation, he noted. Dr Biteko stressed that the family unit must not be taken for granted.

“We must not abandon our families. Every one of us must recognise that the family is the cornerstone of society. No one is perfect, so we must embrace patience, unity and shared responsibility in raising our children.”

He called on parents to set aside quality time to instil cultural values and moral foundations, warning that parental conflicts involving children can lead to deep emotional scars that persist into adulthood.

He further urged children to respect their parents and teachers, to study diligently and to live according to moral and religious principles.

In alignment with this year’s theme, Dr Biteko outlined key responsibilities of families: Meeting children’s needs, nurturing their moral and personal development and passing on positive cultural traditions across generations.

Dr Biteko detailed the government’s efforts to support early childhood development through the National Integrated Programme for Early Childhood Development (2021/22 – 2025/26), implemented in collaboration with development partners.

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The programme provides holistic care from pregnancy to age eight, encompassing nutrition, healthcare, education, emotional support and protection.

So far, over 12,000 preschool teachers in 184 districts have been trained in positive parenting benefiting more than 360,000 children,” he said.

He added that at least 4,178 daycare centres have been established, now serving over 400,000 children, 206 community-owned centres provide care for nearly 12,000 children, 1,316 new pre-primary classrooms have been constructed and equipped. Over 15,000 households have received parenting education and health services.

In partnership with various stakeholders, more than 15,000 professionals, including daycare workers, health workers, journalists and social welfare officers have been trained across all 26 mainland regions.

Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Ms Mwanaidi Ali Khamis, also addressed the gathering, emphasising that parenting begins at birth and requires equal participation from both mothers and fathers.

“Parents must work together to ensure children receive care, education and essential services,” she said.

Permanent Secretary in the same ministry, Dr John Jingu, announced five resolutions adopted during the celebration, including: Expanding childcare centres nationwide, strengthening early identification and intervention services, integrating digital tools to promote smart parenting, enhancing collaboration with faith-based and cultural institutions and increasing the number of trained service providers countrywide.

Speaking on behalf of NGOs, Elizabeth Maganga reaffirmed their commitment to supporting government efforts in child development.

“The ages of 0 to 8 are critical for shaping a child’s future. Investing in this period yields the greatest returns,” she said.

UNICEF’s representative, Laxmi Bhawan, also pledged continued support in developing strategies to enhance child welfare in Tanzania.

As part of the celebration, Dr Biteko officially launched the Guidelines for Child and Family Care Interventions, recognised stakeholders for their contributions to family welfare and unveiled a National Parenting Campaign aimed at improving parenting practices across the country