This month is being celebrated as Child Month and the citizens are being urged to take special care of our children and ensure that they are protected from abuse.

However, there are persons who say they are only interested in protecting their children. One woman remarked recently: "I can hardly find food to look after my four fatherless children much more to be worrying about other people's children. It is not that people do not want to report the cases of child abuse, but some of them are scared and afraid they could be killed."

She said she was tempted sometime ago to report a case in which a man had injured his 13-year-old son, but she left it alone.

"I really felt sorry for the boy, but I know that if I had made a report to the police, the father would know I made the report," she said.

The woman's friend who was sitting nearby combing her hair remarked: "I never know you were a coward and you chat louder than everybody."

"Yes, I know I am a loudmouth woman, but I don't want through my mouth I go and report people's business and they kill me, leaving my children to suffer," she responded.

ashamed

Another woman who was listening to the conversation said she felt upset and ashamed that so many children had gone kissing and so many children were being killed or abused.

She confessed that as a child, she was sexually molested by her stepfather.

"When I told my mother what he did to me, she cursed me and said I was lying. My grandmother was a no-nonsense woman and when I told her about it, she took me straight to the police. The case went to court and the man was convicted and sent to prison. My grandmother is so special to me and I am going to make sure she has a wonderful Mother's Day.

"I just wish more people in this country were like my grandmother fighting against abuses against our children and not ignoring the children's cries for help. I am sure some people know where some of the missing children are, but they just don't care what happens to them. I have made several calls to the police about child abuse and the police have acted, so people should not be afraid to make the necessay calls because they do not have to disclose their identity," she added.

People must be aware that the Child Care and Protection Act places an onus on them to report cases of child abuse. There are several cases in which persons have been charged and convicted for refusing to report cases of child abuse.