Men urged on child caretaking role

KAMPALA - Men have been asked to take responsibility of their children instead of leaving the all the caretaking burden to their wives.

The call was made by Fr Francis Xavier Kikomeko, the parish priest of St Joseph's Catholic Church Ndeeba, while addressing residents who had thronged the parish for a medical camp.

He said that whenever there is a medical camp for children, it is mostly women that attend, meaning men are not interested in caring for their children.

"This is not good," he said.

"In every society men claim to be busy hence leaving the responsibility of taking care of the children to women. This is not true, all they need is to know that it is part and parcel of their responsibility to help their children and this needs just sacrifice."

Fr Kikomeko (pictured) said it's a share responsibility.

"The woman would provide the support but you as a man you need to get involved in the raising of children. Men need to know the health of their children, play with them and also participate in the taking of them to hospital."

Some men, he said, are simply shying away from their responsibility.

"Men should stop thinking that women have nothing to do, because today what a man can do even women can do. So they should also take responsibility of their children."

As a parish they are called to help those who are sick because the church too needs people who are healthy, the reason they support those who organize the camp every Tuesday, added Fr Kikomeko.

Christine Nantume, a Village Health Team (VHT) member, a nurse and nutrition counsellor, expressed concern that men have left all the responsibility of taking care of the children to the wives.

"We have tried sensitizing the men to be involved but many claim they are too busy to help their wives."