Protecting innocence, preserving trust
Janat Yahaya Naggolola – Parenting Coach
Assalam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Imagine the helpless cry of a baby, a sound that never made it out, a plea suffocated in silence. Recently, a hidden camera captured a deeply disturbing scene:
A woman, presumed to be the mother, was seen quietly torturing and seemingly attempting to strangle a defenseless infant.
This heartbreaking footage goes beyond shock. It demands reflection. It demands that we, as a society, re-examine the way we support caregivers and protect our children.
Motherhood is a divine gift. It is beautiful and fulfilling, but also deeply demanding. Mothers and caregivers carry emotional, mental, and spiritual burdens that, when left unaddressed, can become overwhelming. That is why it is crucial for them to recognise when they are struggling and to reach out for help. Seeking emotional, psychological, or spiritual support is not a sign of weakness. It is an act of strength and responsibility. When a caregiver seeks help, they protect both themselves and the child in their care.
To the fathers, your support is not just needed. It is essential. And it must extend beyond your immediate household. Every woman around you, your wife, sister, friend, neighbour, or colleague deserves your empathy, presence, and understanding. Your encouragement, your willingness to step in, to listen, and to stand alongside her, can make an immeasurable difference. When women feel seen and supported, they are empowered to raise children in safer, healthier environments.
To caregivers and domestic workers: when a child is placed in your care, it is not just a job. It is a sacred trust. Every child deserves to be treated with dignity, love, and compassion. Any form of abuse is a grave betrayal of that trust and must never be justified under stress, fatigue, or frustration. Always remember, kindness and integrity must guide your hand, because that child depends on you.
To those in positions of authority, policy makers, institutional heads, community and religious leaders, you carry the responsibility of setting the tone and shaping the systems that protect our children.
Your leadership must prioritise mental health support, parenting education, professional caregiver training, and strong enforcement of child protection laws.
Build awareness. Create safe channels for reporting abuse. Support the silent cries before they become tragedies.
We all share a collective duty to protect childhood. Whether you are a parent, teacher, leader, employer, or neighbour, your attention, your care, and your actions could save a life.
Let us ask some questions that we all wish we did not have to ask:
- What do you think happened to that baby after wards?
- What do you think happens to that baby in moments when the camera is not watching?
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