Imizamo Yokusindisa Izingane

“Sihlangene ku-World Summit for Children ukuze sithathe isinyathelo esibumbene futhi senze isicelo esiphuthumayo embulungeni yonke—ukunikeza zonke izingane ikusasa elingcono.”—Umhlangano WeZizwe Ezihlangene, 1990.

OMONGAMELI nondunankulu bamazwe angaphezu kuka-70 bahlangana eNew York City ngo-September 29 no-30, 1990, ukuze badingide ngosizi lwezingane emhlabeni.

Lomhlangano wagxilisa ukunakekela komhlaba wonke ekuhluphekeni kwezingane okudabukisayo, usizi lwembulunga yonke oluye lwagcinwa luyimfihlo. Ummeleli wase-United States uPeter Teeley waphawula: “Ukuba bekufa izikhova ezingu-40 000 nsuku zonke, bekuyoba nesiyaluyalu. Kodwa kufa izingane ezingu-40 000, kodwa akunakwa nakancane.”

Bonke abaholi bakahulumeni ababehlangene bavumelana ngokuthi kumelwe kwenziwe okuthile—ngokuphuthumayo. Benza “isivumelwano esiqinile sokuwanikeza indawo yokuqala amalungelo ezingane, ukusinda kwazo kanye nesivikelo nentuthuko yazo.” Benza ziphi iziphakamiso ezingokoqobo?

Ukuphila Kwezingane Ezingaphezu Kwezigidi Ezingu-50 Kusengozini

Inhloso eyinhloko kwakuwukusindisa izingane ezingaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-50 ezingase zife phakathi nawo-1990. Iningi lalezingane lingasindiswa ngokuthatha izinyathelo ezilandelayo ezingokwempilo.

• Uma bonke omama abasemazweni asathuthuka benganxuswa ukuba bancelise abantwana babo okungenani izinyanga ezine kuya kweziyisithupha, bekungasindiswa izingane eziyisigidi ngonyaka.

• Ukusetshenziswa kabanzi kokwelapha ngokubuyisela amanzi emzimbeni ngokuwaphuza (i-ORT) kunganciphisa ingxenye yokufa okubangelwa isifo sohudo, esibulala izingane eziyizigidi ezine minyaka yonke.a

• Ukugonywa okwenziwa ezweni lonke nokusetshenziswa kwezibulala-magciwane ezingabizi kungavimbela okunye ukufa kwezigidi okubangelwa izifo ezinjengesimungumungwane, umhlathi-ngqi, ne-pneumonia.

Ingabe loluhlelo lwezempilo lungafinyelelwa? Izindleko cishe zingafinyelela kuma-dollar ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-2,5 (amaRandi ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-8,3) ngonyaka ekupheleni kwalelishumi leminyaka. Uma kucatshangelwa imbulunga yonke lezizindleko ziyobe zizincane. Izinkampani zikagwayi zaseMelika zichitha leyomali unyaka ngamunye—ekukhangiseni ngogwayi nje kuphela. Nsuku zonke amazwe omhlaba achitha lelonani elifanayo ezindlekweni zezempi. Lezizimali zingasetshenziswa yini kangcono empilweni yezingane ezisengozini? I-United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child ilibeka ngesihloko elokuthi “isintu sikweleta ingane okungcono kakhulu esingakunikeza.”

Yiqiniso, ukunikeza “zonke izingane ikusasa elingcono” kuhilela okungaphezu kokuzisindisa ekufeni kwangaphambi kwesikhathi. USandra Huffman, umongameli we-Center to Prevent Childhood Malnutrition, kumagazini i-Time uchaza ukuthi “i-ORT ayisivimbeli isifo sohudo, imane nje isindise izingane ekubulaweni yiso. . . . Okumelwe sikwenze manje,” uyanezela, “ukugxila ekutheni singasivimbela kanjani lesisifo, hhayi ukufa kuphela.”

Ukuze kuthuthukiswe—futhi kusindiswe—ukuphila kwezingane eziyizigidi, kuye kwasungulwa izinhlelo eziningana eziyinselele. (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 6.) Alukho oluyofezeka kalula.

Amanzi Ahlanzekile Atholakala Eduze

UFelicia Onu wayevame ukuchitha amahora amahlanu nsuku zonke ekhela umkhaya wakhe amanzi. Ngokuvamile amanzi ayefika nawo ekhaya ayenamagciwane. (Amanzi anjalo abangela ubhadane lwaminyaka yonke lwegciwane i-guinea worm futhi anengxenye ekubhedukeni kwesifo sohudo.) Kodwa ngo-1984, edolobhaneni lakubo lase-Ugwulangwu empumalanga yeNigeria, kwambiwa umthombo kwafakwa umpompi wamanzi.

Manje usehamba amamitha angamakhulu ambalwa ukuze athole amanzi ahlanzekile. Abantabakhe banempilo engcono, futhi ukuphila kwakhe sekulula. Abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyinkulungwane abanjengoFelicia bakwazi ukuthola amanzi ahlanzekile phakathi nawo-1980. Kodwa izigidi zabesifazane nezingane zisachitha amahora amaningi usuku ngalunye zithwele amabhakede anamanzi amancane kunalawo asetshenziswa ekukhucululeni indle endlini yangasese evamile yaseNtshonalanga.

Izinzuzo Nobunzima Kwezemfundo

UMaximino ungumfana ohlakaniphile oneminyaka engu-11 ubudala ohlala emajukujukwini aseColombia. Naphezu kokuchitha amahora amaningana ngosuku esiza uyise ekunakekeleni izilimo zakubo, uqhuba kahle esikoleni. Ufunda e-Escuela Nueva, noma iSikole Esisha, esinenqubo eshintshashintshayo eklanyelwe ukusiza izingane ukuba zingasaleli emuva uma ziphuthe esikoleni izinsuku ezimbalwa—okuyinto evamile, ikakhulukazi ngesikhathi sokuvuna. Kunothisha abambalwa esikoleni uMaximino afunda kuso. Akunazincwadi ezanele. Izingane zikhuthazwa ukuba zisizane ngalokho ezingakuqondi, futhi zona ngokwazo zenza umsebenzi omningi ohilelekile ekuphatheni isikole. Lesisimiso esisha—esenzelwe ngokukhethekile ukuhlangabezana nezidingo zemiphakathi empofu yasemaphandleni—siyazanywa kwamanye amazwe amaningi.

Ebangeni eliqhele ngezinkulungwane zamakhilomitha ukusuka eColombia, kwelinye idolobhakazi lase-Asia, kukhona omunye ohlakaniphile oneminyaka engu-11 ubudala, okuthiwa uMelinda. Muva nje uyeke isikole ukuze achithe amahora angu-12 ngosuku eqongelela izinsinjana nepulasitiki kwenye yezindawo ezinkulu zokulahla imfucumfucu kulelidolobha. “Ngifuna ukusiza ubaba ukuze sithole ukudla kwansuku zonke,” kusho uMelinda. “Uma bengingamsizi, besingase singadli nhlobo.” Ngisho nangosuku olumatasa uhola R1,15 kuphela.

Izisebenzi Zezempilo Eziyizingane

Emaphethelweni edolobha laseNdiya iBombay kunemijondolo ebizwa ngokuthi iMalvani, lapho sekunesikhathi eside kuhlasele khona izifo. Ekugcineni izinto ziyathuthuka, ngenxa yezisebenzi zezempilo ezikhuthele ezinjengoNeetu no-Aziz. Zivakashela imikhaya ukuze zihlole ukuthi izingane ezincane zigonyiwe yini noma ukuthi aziphethwe yini isifo sohudo, utwayi, noma i-anemia. UNeetu no-Aziz baneminyaka engu-11 kuphela ubudala. Basebenza ngokuzithandela ohlelweni olwabela izingane ezikhulakhulile isabelo sokunakekela impilo yezingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka emihlanu. Ngenxa yemizamo kaNeetu no-Aziz—nemizamo yezinye izingane eziningi ezinjengabo—cishe zonke izingane zaseMalvani zigonyiwe, abazali abaningi bayakwazi ukusebenzisa ukwelapha ngokubuyisela amanzi emzimbeni ngokuwaphuza, nenhlanzeko evamile isithuthukile.

Kuwo wonke umhlaba, kuthathwa izinyathelo ezinqala zokugoma izingane ezincane ezifweni ezivame kakhulu. (Bheka ishadi ekhasini 8.) EBangladesh manje sekugonywe izinsana ezingaphezu kwamaphesenti angu-70, futhi eChina sekugonywe ezingaphezu kwamaphesenti angu-95. Uma wonke amazwe asathuthuka engagoma amaphesenti angu-90, ochwepheshe bezempilo bakholelwa ukuthi kungafinyelelwa isibalo esikhulu sokugonyelwa izifo. Lapho abaningi begonyiwe, kunzima ukuba isifo sisakazeke.

Ubumpofu, Impi, Nengculaza

Nakuba kunjalo, iqiniso elidabukisayo liwukuthi nakuba kwenziwa intuthuko ekunakekelweni kwempilo nakwezemfundo, ezinye izinkinga zisagxile kunanini ngaphambili. Ezintathu ezingalawuleki ubumpofu, impi, nengculaza.

Eminyakeni yamuva nje abantu abampofu emhlabeni bebelokhu beqhubeka bebampofu kakhulu. Iholo langempela ezindaweni ezimpofu zase-Afrika naseLatin America liye lehla ngamaphesenti ayishumi noma ngaphezulu eminyakeni eyishumi edlule. Abazali kulamazwe—lapho amaphesenti angu-75 eholo lomkhaya esetshenziselwa ukuthenga ukudla—abakwazi ukunikeza abantwana babo ukudla okunomsoco.

UGrace watshelwa emtholampilo wangakubo ukuthi ‘anikeze abantwana imifino nobhanana.’ Kodwa uGrace, ongumama wabantwana abayishumi, ohlala eMpumalanga Afrika, akanayo imali yokuthenga ukudla, futhi awekho amanzi anele okuba akhulise lezozilimo esizeni somkhaya esiyihektare elingu-0,1. Akukho abangakwenza ngaphandle kokuba baphile ngommbila nobhontshisi nokulamba ngezinye izikhathi. Uma lezizimo ziqhubeka, cishe ngeke abe ngcono amathemba ngomkhaya kaGrace noma eminye eyizigidi enjengawo.

Abantwana bakaGrace, nakuba bempofu, baphila kangcono kunoKim Seng oneminyaka eyisishiyagalombili ubudala waseNingizimu-mpumalanga Asia, oyise wabulawa empini phakathi kwezihlobo futhi kamuva unina wabulawa indlala. UKim Seng, naye owacishe wabulawa ukungondleki kahle, ekugcineni wathola isiphephelo ekamu lababaleki. Iningi lezingane eziyizigidi ezinhlanu eziphila emakamu ababaleki emhlabeni jikelele liye labhekana nobunzima obufanayo.

Ekuqaleni kwalelikhulu leminyaka, izakhamuzi eziyizinkubela zempi zazingamaphesenti amahlanu kuphela. Manje lesosibalo sesinyukele kumaphesenti angu-80, futhi iningi lalezizisulu zempi abesifazane noma izingane. Labo abangase basinde ekulimaleni okungokomzimba basabhekana nokuhlupheka okungokomzwelo. “Ngeke ngiyikhohlwe indlela umama abulawa ngayo,” kusho enye ingane engumbaleki yasezweni eliseningizimu emaphakathi ne-Afrika. “Bambamba umama futhi bamhlukumeza. Kamuva bambopha base bemgwaza. . . . Ngezinye izikhathi ngiphupha ngakho.”

Njengoba izingxabano ezinobudlova ziqubuka ngokuqhubekayo emazweni ahlukahlukene, kubonakala kungenakugwemeka ukuthi izingane ezingenacala zizoqhubeka zibhekana nembubhiso yempi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukushuba kwesimo emhlabeni wonke kuyazilimaza nezingane ezingahilelekile ngokuqondile kulezingxabano. Impi idla imali eningi engasetshenziselwa imfundo engcono, ukuhlanzeka, nokunakekelwa kwempilo. Ukusetshenziswa kwemali kwezempi amazwe ezezimboni kuyalidlula iholo lonyaka elihlanganisiwe lengxenye yesintu empofu kakhulu. Ngisho namazwe angu-46 ampofu kakhulu emhlabeni achitha imali eningi kwezempi ngaphezu kwayisebenzisa kwezempilo nakwezemfundo kuhlangene.

Ngaphandle kobumpofu nempi, omunye umbulali uhlasela izingane emhlabeni. Phakathi nawo-1980, lapho kwenziwa intuthuko ephawulekayo ekulweni nesimungumungwane, umhlathi-ngqi, nesifo sohudo, kwavela olunye usizi lwezempilo: ingculaza. I-World Health Organization ilinganisela ukuthi ngonyaka ka-2000, izingane eziyizigidi eziyishumi ziyobe zinalesisifo. Iningi lazo ngeke lifinyelele eminyakeni emibili ubudala, futhi cishe ayikho eyophila iminyaka engaphezu kwemihlanu. “Uma kungenziwa okuthile ngokushesha, ingculaza isongela ukuqothula yonke intuthuko esesiyenzile ekusindiseni izingane eminyakeni engu-10 edlule,” kukhala uDkt. Reginald Boulos, udokotela wezifo zabantwana eHaiti.

Kulokhu kuhlaziya okufushane, kusobala ukuthi naphezu kwentuthuko encomekayo, umgomo ‘wokunikeza zonke izingane ikusasa elingcono’ usewumsebenzi omkhulu kakhulu. Likhona yini ithemba lokuthi leliphupho liyogcwaliseka ngolunye usuku?

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 6]

Imigomo Yawo-1990—Inselele Yokusindisa Izingane

Izizwe ezazikhona ku-World Summit for Children zenza izinqumo eziningana ezibalulekile. Nakhu ezinethemba lokukufinyelela ngonyaka ka-2000.

Ukugoma. Izinqubo zamanje zokugoma zisindisa izingane eziyizigidi ezintathu ngonyaka. Kodwa kunezinye eziyizigidi ezimbili ezisafa. Ngokugoma amaphesenti angu-90 noma ngaphezulu ezingane emhlabeni ezifweni ezivame kakhulu, okuningi kwalokhu kufa kungagwenywa.

Imfundo. Phakathi nawo-1980, ukubhalisa esikoleni kwehla kakhulu emazweni amaningi ampofu emhlabeni. Umgomo uwukuhlehlisa lokhu kuthambekela nokuqinisekisa ukuthi ekupheleni kwalelishumi leminyaka, zonke izingane zinethuba lokuya esikoleni.

Ukungondleki. Izikhulu ze-United Nations Children’s Fund zikholelwa ukuthi “ngezinkambiso ezifanele, . . . manje umhlaba usesimweni sokondla zonke izingane ezisemhlabeni nokunqoba ukungondleki okubi kakhulu.” Kwenziwa iziphakamiso zokunciphisa ngengxenye inani lezingane ezingondlekile phakathi nalelishumi leminyaka. Ukufinyelela lokho kungenza ukuba izingane eziyizigidi eziyikhulu zingabulawa iphango.

Amanzi ahlanzekile nenhlanzeko. Ngo-1987, i-Brundtland Report yachaza: “Emazweni asathuthuka, inani lompompi bamanzi abaseduze liyisibonakaliso esingcono sempilo yomphakathi kunenani lemibhede esesibhedlela.” Okwamanje abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyinkulungwane abawatholi amanzi ahlanzekile, futhi abaphinda lelonani kabili abanayo indlela yokukhuculula indle. Umgomo uwukunikeza imbulunga yonke amanzi okuphuza ahlanzekile nokulungiselela abantu indlela yokukhuculula indle.

Isivikelo. Eminyakeni eyishumi edlule, izimpi ziye zabangela izinkubela eziyizingane ezingaphezu kwezigidi ezinhlanu. Ezinye izingane eziyizigidi ezinhlanu ziye zalahlekelwa amakhaya. Lababaleki, kanye nezigidi zezingane zasemgwaqweni nezisebenzi eziyizingane, zidinga isivikelo ngokuphuthumayo. I-Convention on the Rights of the Child—manje eqiniswe amazwe angaphezu kwekhulu—ifuna ukuvikela zonke lezizingane ebudloveni nasekuxhashazweni.

[Ishadi ekhasini 7]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

IZIMBANGELA EZIYINHLOKO ZOKUFA KWEZINGANE

(Izingane Ezineminyaka Engaphansi Kwemihlanu)

UKUFA KWEZIGIDI UNYAKA NGAMUNYE (Ukulinganisela kwango-1990):

U-0,51 WESIGIDI Umpenge

U-0,79 WESIGIDI Umhlathi-ngqi Wezinsana

ISIGIDI ESISODWA Umalaleveva

IZIGIDI EZINGU-1,52 Isimungumungwane

IZIGIDI EZINGU-2,2 Ezinye Izifo Zemigudu Yokuphefumula

IZIGIDI EZINGU-4,0 Isifo Sohudo

IZIGIDI EZINGU-4,2 Ezinye Izimbangela

Umthombo:I-WHO ne-UNICEF

[Ishadi ekhasini 8]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

INTUTHUKO EKUGONYWENI KWEZINGANE EMAZWENI ASATHUTHUKA 1980-1988

Amaphesenti ezingane ezingaphansi kwezinyanga ezingu-12 eziye zagonywa

IMINYAKA

1980 1988

I-DPT3* 24% 66%

UVENDLE 20% 66%

ISIFO SOFUBA 29% 72%

ISIMUNGUMUNGWANE 15% 59%

* I-DPT3: Ukugoma okuyinhlanganisela kwe-DIPHTHERIA, UMPENGE (PERTUSSIS), NOMHLATHI-NGQI.

UMTHOMBO: I-WHO ne-UNICEF (Izibalo zango-1980 azihlanganisi iChina)

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 4]

Photo: Godo-Foto