Editorial,

We have now reached the peak of the rainy season, news of children being carried away by floods is usually a common feature during this period; in fact, just last week, the entire nation was shocked by news of a nursery school pupil losing her life after falling into an uncovered gutter. It is therefore important that parents and guardians take greater responsibility to protect our children particularly when it is raining.

We are all aware that even though schools have closed for the summer vacation, study classes are ongoing and students are therefore expected to attend this study classes. It is the duty of parents to ensure that their children particularly those in primary and nursery schools are escorted to and from school. Children should also be kept indoors when it is raining. While playing outdoors is normal for all children growing up, parents have to be more cautious to ensure that these children are given suitable grounds to play.

We should not forget that if there is a period children would like to have freedom to enjoy themselves it is during the rainy season. Teachers also have to make sure that pupils are not allowed to go home alone after classes. This is fundamental not only for the rains; the heavy traffic could also be risky for the kids. In situations where it is not possible for parents to come and pick their children from the school, arrangements should be made by the teachers themselves to ensure that the children get to their homes safely.

Those in charge of road construction should also ensure that the gutters are properly covered. The young girl lost her life last week because of the uncovered gutter. Apart from being death traps during the rainy season, uncovered gutters are also breeding grounds for mosquitoes, the insect that transmits malaria. Greater attention should therefore be placed on safety mechanisms to make the environment safe for the children. Individual communities should also play their part by keeping our environment clean and making sure they don’t dump waste in gutters and block the flow of water.