English
Kinyarwanda
Carelessness by some parents and guardians of minding less about their children playing in and around water bodies like lakes, rivers, dams and streams is one of the causes of drowning.
Majority victims of drowning are children below 15 years of age. In most cases, these children are left unattended, parents don’t care on the whereabouts of their children and ditches in the compound are not covered.
Recently, a two-year old baby girl drowned in a water pond in Gako cell, Kagano sector of Nyamasheke District and died instantly.
It is alleged that the tot drowned after the mother left her unattended outside.
In most cases, the victims are those whose families reside near water bodies like lakes, rivers, dams and streams.
Sending the youngsters to fetch water in these water bodies is a ‘suicide mission.’
There is a possibility where children can push their colleague into the lake, river or even a well in form of ‘playing’ resulting into a disaster.
These are issues parents and guardians should have in mind and take precautions.
Children need constant parental attention. They should not be abandoned or allowed to play in and around water bodies. This is the responsibility of parents. Traditionally, proper upbringing of children was a responsibility of the whole community, though this seems to be dying away. But it won’t cause any harm if you chased such children from these dangerous places. You will be acting responsibly.
By covering ditches and ponds in the neighbourhood, stopping or chasing children from their water bodies, you will be preventing likely drowning and loss of the country’s major resource.
