Koudougou: The Place de la Nation in Koudougou hosted a gathering on Tuesday, June 16, marking Family and Child Month in the Boulkiemd© province. Stakeholders urged the importance of ensuring the fundamental rights of children, focusing on their access to water, hygiene, and sanitation.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony was themed “Equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene: a fundamental right for every child.” It was held under the patronage of Salimata Ou©draogo/Sanou, the High Commissioner of Boulkiemd©, and sponsored by B©r©houdougou Boubacar and co-sponsored by Marc Zongo.
The High Commissioner highlighted that the day commemorates the children of Soweto, who lost their lives in 1976 in South Africa while demanding access to quality education. She emphasized the critical role of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in safeguarding children’s health, dignity, and education. She called for efforts in promoting good hygiene practices and water conservation.
Fifteen-year-old Kabor© Nematou, representing the children, advocated for increased drinking water and sanitation infrastructure. She noted that many children face long journeys to access water, adversely impacting their health and education.
Jean-Baptiste Sanou, the coordinator of the Boulkiemd© Provincial Child Protection Network, appealed to parents, communities, and institutions to collaborate in ensuring that every child can exercise this fundamental right.
Apollinaire Yameogo, representing the sponsors, reiterated the Enfant pour Enfant Foundation’s commitment to enhancing children’s living conditions. The foundation focuses on constructing boreholes and sanitary infrastructure in schools.
The event also featured awards for sports and cultural competition winners. The Salbisgo Centre triumphed in the football tournament, while Bationo Martine secured first place in the slam poetry competition.
The commemoration reinforced the dedication of child protection advocates to achieving equitable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for all children.