Agency urges Government, partners to help parents, caregivers

THE Government and its partners should help parents and caregivers give their children the best start in life despite the pressures posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, an official says. United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) acting representative Judith Bruno said: “It is great to see young people appreciating their mothers through poems and this month is special as the world celebrates and recognises the importance of parents, reflects on parental responsibilities, shares experiences, successes and challenges around parenting.  “It is a time to rally, with one voice, to scale up support to parents and caregivers so that they can give children the best start in life to thrive and flourish,” she said. It is the start of the Global Parenting Month where six winners of the first Mother’s Day poem contest by the U-Report in PNG received their certificates of participation.“This month, we are celebrating resilience by raising awareness on the importance of parents and caregivers’ mental health and wellbeing, especially in the context of the Covid-19. “In the second year of the pandemic, parents are continuing to support their children’s learning and development, keeping their households functioning and looking after their family’s wellbeing. “The Covid-19 has been a source of unprecedented stress and adversity for many families putting their own mental health and ability to provide a protective and nurturing environment for their children at risk.  “It has increased the already heavy burden on all parents and caregivers, especially mothers and women caregivers who carry a disproportionate burden of care giving.  “Unicef is calling on the Government and businesses to invest to scale up on parenting programmes and family-friendly policies because supporting parenting is an issue of protecting children’s rights.”