Campaign to use whistles to save lives launched

BACOLOD CITY—A whistle can spell the difference between life and death.

“A loud whistle is one of the safest forms of personal protection,” said Katherine Manik, national director of ChildFund Philippines. “People in many countries use whistles to alert others to danger or distress and call for aid.”

For instance, she said, a shrill whistle “lets people know someone needs help, and deters perpetrators of abuse or violence from proceeding with their ill-intent.”

Manik spoke during her group’s launching of its Whistle for Protection campaign to prevent abuse and violence against children with disabilities (CWDs) last week.

ChildFund is assisting 200 CWDs in barangays Bata, Banago, Alijis and Handumanan here and another 200 in two barangays in Roxas City, Capiz province, and two barangays in San Joaquin, Iloilo province, project specialist Allan Nuñez said.

Not a habit

Among the children ChildFund works with are those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia and intellectual disabilities, and are below 18 years old.

“Most CWDs in the Philippines do not use distress whistles, or if they do have them, people around them do not have the habit of responding to distress whistles,” Nuñez said.

Whistles are louder, and their pitch is clearer than spoken calls for assistance. Nuñez pointed out that certain groups of CWDs are specifically unable to call for assistance—but they can still blow a whistle.

Ask for assistance

ChildFund is introducing the habit of using whistles to alert assistance needed through the Whistle For Protection campaign, Manik said. Persons with disabilities and CWDs can also use whistles to tell caregivers that they need some help or assistance, aside from personal protection, she added.

The campaign is among the activities of ChildFund’s Embrace (Enhancing Local Capacities to Make Better Communities for Children and Youth with Disabilities), a project funded by Australian Aid which aims to enhance capacities of children and parents, caregivers, service providers and duty-bearers. Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas