Steps taken to shelter kids of virus-hit families
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 10 2021:
Social welfare department has taken up steps to identify children's homes where Fit Facility Centre could be opened to shelter children whose parents contracted COVID-19.The department has also taken up steps to provide special care to children who have become orphans after their parents succumbed to COVID-19 during the pandemic, informed director (social welfare) Ng Uttam.
Talking about the need to provide special treatment/care to children below 18 years of age after both their father and mother contracted COVID-19, Ng Uttam told The People's Chronicle that it is necessary to look after children while their parents are undergoing treatment at Covid centres.
Children's homes in districts were opened to shelter orphans and other destitute children.
Even if children whose parents have gone to rehabilitation centre after contracting the virus tested negative, it is not advisable for such children to mix up with other children.
As such children need special attention and care till their parents fully recover and test negative, the department has been initiating due process to open Fit Facility centres to house such children, Uttam said, while adding that child welfare committees of districts have been informed to identify homes by Tuesday where such centres could be opened.
He also informed that Thoubal will be the first district to have a Fit Facility Centre at the children's home for boys at Charangpat for only male kids.
The director further said that a list of children homes where Fit Facility would be opened will be notified very soon.
In view of the present pandemic situation, district child protection officers have been instructed to identify number of people who have succumbed to COVID-19 in their respective districts and how many children have become orphans.
The department will take up steps to look after any child rendered parentless due to COVID-19, Uttam assured, while adding that the list of people who have succumbed to the virus has been sent to relevant district officers for necessary measures.
Uttam also informed that head of the directorate had been informed to arrange a special rehabilitation centre for differently abled persons and transgender if they happen to test positive and do not want to stay with general positive people.