2nd National Conference on Orphans and Other ... - FHI 360

she began taking care of Namibian children long
before independence. Those participants who
lived in exile will remember her work in Angola,
where we knew her as “Meme Libertina who
cares for the children”.
I also congratulate with appreciation all those
who have been dealing with the child welfare
function, and especially the MoHSS staff headed
by Petronella Masabane, Deputy Director of
Social Welfare Services, for their very hard work
and commitment to the plight of Namibian
children.
The MWACW will not start anything new,
but will build on the work already done, and we
will definitely call on you, the DDSWS, to tap
your rich knowledge. The MoHSS will be one of
our main partners in carrying out our mandate.
It will continue to be a member of the OVCNSC
and hopefully to serve on its sub-committees.
Director of Ceremonies, there have been
rumours that the MWACW does not have the
capacity to carry out the child welfare function.
Those holding such views do not understand
how the Government of Namibia works. The
decisions of our Cabinet are supported by all
Cabinet members, and the description and
objective of the MWACW as adopted by the
Cabinet are as follows:
To oversee all Government policies and
operations in regard to women’s affairs
and child welfare to ensure that the
objectives are achieved and policies are
properly implemented. ... To review
policy and suggest and/or approve and
make public the Government’s policies
and guidelines in the above-mentioned
areas.
This means that the full Cabinet is behind this
ministry in fulfilling its functions. As the ministry
responsible for child welfare we welcome all
initiatives aimed at enhancing the care and
protection of children. However, we want coordination;
we must not work in isolation but in
partnership, complementing each other. Dealing
with children is a complex matter and mistakes
may have far-reaching repercussions.
The MWACW has set up a secretariat to
continue running the <strong>National</strong> Programme for
Children previously resorting under the <strong>National</strong>
Planning Commission, this being one of the
functions of government that the MWACW has
inherited. We consider this to be the ‘mother’ of
all programmes we have to run, because whether
children are orphaned or vulnerable or not, they
are Namibian children. The same secretariat will
serve the national programme for OVC, the
OVCNSC and its sub-committees, i.e. the Sub-
Committee on OVC, Sub-Committee on ECD
and Sub-Committee on Child Development.
It goes without saying that it is our moral
responsibility as individuals, communities and
public and private institutions to ensure that
every child in this country is cared for unconditionally;
we have a duty to provide support in
whatever way we can. We must remember that
they have no country but Namibia, and only
Namibians should feel guilty for leaving them
vulnerable to dangerous circumstances. It would
be immoral to watch these children suffering
while others swim in wealth. We have to strive
to give life to them because they are human
beings. These children need to go to school,
and they have all the same needs in life as any
other child. They need to be cared for, and they
must not be pushed into institutions where care
may be faceless, but rather placed in family
homes where they can be exposed to and learn
culture and home care and develop into healthy,
productive, responsible adult members of
society. A neglected child cannot be expected
to take on social, political or cultural responsibility.
Education is key, and our Government
recognises this.
I hope your discussions at this conference
raise pertinent issues and lead us to solutions
to problems facing the nation in respect of OVC.
We are expecting this conference to come up
with realistic recommendations. It has become
fashionable at such gatherings to use a lot of
words used in this or that document when one
knows deep in one’s heart that something is not
practical in one’s own situation. We cannot afford
to play around with words when the fate of our
children is at stake. I hope we are ready to face
the challenges and ensure a better future for all
our children.
With these few words I wish you all the best
in your deliberations. I thank you.
38 <strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children – Windhoek, Namibia, 25-27 June 2002: Full Report