The safety of children should be a top priority for parents, since neglecting child safety can result in unexpected heartbreaking incidents.

Save the Children Fiji’s Chief executive Iris Low-McKenzie says it’s crucial for parents to protect their children.

Low-McKenzie says they’re reminding parents that they are responsible for the safety of their children at all times following the recent drowning of a one-year-old infant over the weekend.

“It is quite heartbreaking when we hear incidents of children that are actually dying because of the negligence of an adult and we know that this incident could be avoided and you could save a life. If a child survives an incident of negligence, there are some effects that are life lasting on the child and we can change that if we take a more proactive approach to better protect our children.”

Child Protection Coordinator, Nanise Waqamailau says parents and guardians should understand the dangers of child negligence.

“It’s a norm in our village settings and our communities that children are looked after communally. Parents should really prioritize on events, they sometimes attend to obligations over the safety, welfare and protection of their children.”

Save the Children Fiji says parents and guardians should not take this advisory lightly as the courts are now imposing harsher penalties for child neglect.

Meanwhile, 259 cases of child neglect were recorded by the Ministry of Women’s Child Services Unit from January to November last year.