South Sudan on Friday commemorated the African Child Day occasion under the theme “Eliminating child marriage in South Sudan; our collective responsibility.”
Child Welfare Director in the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Celina Peter, said the government is concerned about bad cultural practices against children, Radio Bakhita reported.She said cultural practices such as scaring, tooth removal, stopping education to herd cattle and using girls to compensate for killings affect children.
She such practices are prevalent in South Sudan.
Ms Peter added that the ministry constituted an advocacy team to campaign against child marriage in South Sudan.
UNICEF children representative Moujur Hussein said early marriage makes children suffer from several diseases.
He said South Sudan faces high maternal mortality rates due to child marriage that raises serious concern.
Director General in the National Ministry of Health Janet Michael said most of the pregnant girls get late to the antenatal clinic and present severe anaemia.
She said South Sudan registered a ten-year old pregnant girl and many girls below the age of 12 are getting pregnant.
Ms Michael added that in one county 600 girls dropped out of schools and 15 girls left in one primary school.
The world will commemorate the twenty third anniversary of the African Child Day on Sunday.