The Premier`s wife, Regina Lowassa, has challenged parents and guardians to prepare children at their adolescent age psychologically, to face challenges of growing up safely and healthily.
Mama Lowassa who was speaking at the launch of a publication titled Watoto Bomba prepared by Femina Health Information Project in Dar es Salaam yesterday said parents have the responsibility to prepare children psychologically to enable them easily approach teenage years.
``Most children have recieved wrong information from their friends about their body changes because parents are not open to talk about those changes,`` she said.
Citing examples, she said a child who enters puberty can be misled by a friend that such stage was proper for him or her to have sexual relations.
``Children need to be well-informed on the negative effects of early sexual relations including health effects such as pregnancies, HIV/Aids and death,`` Mama Lowassa added.
She commended the efforts by Femina HIP for publishing the booklet, which will be useful not only to children, but also to the entire community.
``As parents we should not be shy to talk to our children over the truth of life because they have many ways to do so if they do not learn from us,`` Mama Lowassa insisted.
She called upon the government to proceed with its efforts to improve children�s lives so that the country has a better future generation.
Femina HIP Executive Director Dr. Minou Fuglesang, said the book features Tanzania children and their real life stories on issues such as body changes, HIV/Aids, bullying, disability and personal safety.
Dr. Fuglesang said although Femina HIP previously targeted mostly youth above fifteen years of age, it has become necessary to address children before they enter adolescence.
``This would help them become sexually active and prepared for the challenges of growing up and protection from HIV/Aids, sexual abuse and bullying,`` she said.
She said Femina supports the National HIV/Aids Communication and Advocacy Strategy that sexual and reproductive health and HIV/Aids issues should be introduced to children early to protect those not yet sexually active and equip them with knowledge and life skills so as to better protect themselves.
About 90,000 copies of the publication will be distributed nationwide to youth centers, libraries, out of youth clubs, orphanages and civil society organisations working with children.
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