The director of Social Welfare has told children at the ongoing 4th edition of the Scholar Athletes for Change (SAC) Basketball Summer Camp, for students between the ages of 10 and 17,that too many sexually victimised children never tell their abuse. This, she lamented is probably the fact that these victims are afraid that someone will blame them, and thus keep the abuse a secret.

Fanta Bai Secka made these remarks Wednesday at the Friendship Hotel in Bakau, while presenting a paper on the topic 'Child sexual abuse and HIV/AIDS.” She told the participants that many victims fear rejection and punishment or are with the thinking that nobody will believe them when they tell the story, adding that a relationship of trust or intimidation from the abuser may also silence the child.

The Social Welfare director cited HIV/AIDS as one of the harmful consequences of sexual abuse; a disease she said that cannot still be cured.“Those who are infected have to live with this disease for the rest of their lives, some being abandoned by their families and friends,” she stated. She noted that some of these victims experience trauma, strong physical suffering, and eventually end up dying at a young age.

Secka then advised the children to protect themselves and avoid anything that is related to sexual abuse, stressing that they should focus more on their education. “Trust your feeling of discomfort no matter who the person is. Say no to unwanted hugs, pats on your buttocks, and touching that confuse or bother you,” she advised.

In his presentation, the chairman of the National Sports Council, Bun Njie, enjoined the participants to take up sporting disciplines such as basketball as their career. He advised them to be discipline, hardworking, and be ambitious in their endeavours. He then commended the SAC for organising this year's summer camp and for encouraging students to learn more about the basketball game, among others.