MPs assess welfare of orphans, seniors

MPs are concerned over the plight of orphans, street children as well as other people with special needs.This was highlighted Thursday as the Chamber of Deputies held a brainstorming session to find solutions.The standing committee on social affairs had earlier this year presented to the House its findings on a previous study that highlighted the problems affecting orphanages and homes of citizens with special needs countrywide.Speaker Rose Mukantabana expressed her bewilderment over why children or the elderly should be left to fend for themselves, which she termed as “a phenomenon contrary to the Rwandan culture.”“The problem of these children was linked with that of the elderly. Why are the country’s children taking care of themselves while we are here? What about those with parents yet they are out on the streets? And, what about these parents who continue to produce children that they cannot ably care for?” the Speaker posed, as she addressed the Assembly.“These are questions we must find answers to, regardless of what we all know as having been the consequences of the Genocide against the Tutsi.”Government has over the last decade tried to gradually phase out orphanages, preferring foster homes and adoption.MP Esperance Mwiza, the Chairperson of the committee, told the session that after visiting the orphanages, and other places where the elderly, street children, child-led families live, they realised that problems abound.“The problems include orphanages which take in a higher number of children than they can support, children in these orphanages have poor standards of living, unqualified staff in orphanages, and orphanages that accept children who actually have parents.”Zaina Nyiramatama, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Children (NCC), noted that their research indicates that there are 33 recognised orphanages in the country with 3,153 orphans, 55 percent boys. Nine of the orphanages are in Kigali. Reasons for the mounting numbers of homeless children, Nyiramatama explained, include the deaths of both parents, death of a mother, poverty and mental disorders.She stressed that orphanages are not the ideal place to bring up children as they are deprived of a normal upbringing due to issues that include lack of proper parental care, poor feeding, and normal family love and happiness.Dr. Mathias Harebamungu, the Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, informed the session that his ministry has a special needs education mandate but quickly added that attention is wholly on the physically impaired.Highlighting the national policy on the elderly, Dr. Alvera Mukabaramba, the State Minister for Social Affairs in the Ministry of Local Government, noted that the “social protection policy is comprehensive” and merges all people with social needs.The one-day session will make recommendations on the way forward in terms of sustainable solutions to issues.