1.Invest to Save the Lives of Children and Women

There has been a 25 percent drop in child mortality and we are making good progress towards the child survival Millennium Development Goal. Even so, more than 445 children under 5 years die every day— and over 140 are less than one month old. 

2. Invest in Good Nutrition

 

More than a third of Tanzanian children do not reach their physical and mental potential because of malnutrition.Good nutrition in children and women is essential for a strong economy. 

3. Invest in Better Hygiene and Sanitation in Schools and Health Facilities

Four out of five schools have no functioning hand-washing facilities. Three out of five schools have no on-site water supply. Many health facilities are in a similar critical situation. Improving hygiene and sanitation in schools will reduce illness, improve attendance and help to ensure more children, especially girls, complete their education. Water supplies and toilets in health facilities are vital for reducing infections and saving lives.

4 .Invest in Early Childhood Development

 

Early childhood programmes are at the forefront in the fight against poverty. Children from the poorest communities are at greater risk of disease and malnutrition and do less well in school. Early childhood programmes focused on the poorest families help parents to provide a better start for their children and help close the gap between rich and poor. Investments in early childhood give a seven-fold return and are much more cost-efficient than investing in remedial programmes later in a child’s life.

5. Invest in Quality Education for all Children

Only just over half of students pass the primary school leaving exam. Less than one in ten students in rural areas enroll in secondary school. Well-educated school leavers are essential for sound economic development. 

6. Invest to Make Schools Safe

  Schools must be safe-havens for children. Too many experience fear, humiliation and beatings that undermine their ability to learn and leads many children to drop-out early. Reduction in school violence and improvements in discipline, student-teacher relations and school attendance among other benefits can be achieved by integrating and expanding sport in schools. 

 

7. Invest to Protect Infants and Adolescent Girls from HIV

Important advances have been achieved in reducing HIV prevalence. Yet one in every ten new infections occurs in babies even though more than 90 percent of these infections could be prevented. Girls are also much more vulnerable to HIV infection than boys. Every new infection in a teenager represents a failure to provide a young person with the necessary knowledge, information, skills and services that will enable them to protect themselves. Stigma and discrimination continues to undermine women’s access to services. 

8. Invest to Reduce Teenage Pregnancy

In 2007, over 8,000 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy and the number seems to be growing every year. Early pregnancy endangers both the young mothers and their infants. Reducing pregnancy and ensuring the rights of all girls to education is vital in the fight against poverty.

 

9. Invest to Protect Children from Violence, Abuse, and Exploitation 

More than 2 million children are orphans - some are protected within the extended family, others are passed among relatives and many end up on the streets. Millions of children are exposed to forms of violence, abuse and exploitation. There is no comprehensive child protection system to defend the rights of the most vulnerable children.

10. Invest in Children with Disabilities

The majority of children with disabilities are denied rights to education. Too many are locked away and kept in inhuman conditions. 

Compiled by Elizabeth Tungaraza