Assam govt issues directives to districts for care & protection of children during Covid in CCH/CCI

May 11: As the number of coronavirus cases are gradually increasing in Assam, the situation seems to be alarming. In this connection, Anurag Goel, the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department has written a letter to all Joint Director of Health Services cum member Secretaries of District health Society of 33 districts to follow appropriate and effective implementation for Care and Protection of Children in all the districts during the COVID-I9 pandemic. The letter further specified that the Director of Health Services, Assam shall ensure that all the instructions are carried out in each districts.

The directives were issued by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department, as per discussion on virtual meeting of Chairperson of Juvenile Justice Committees of High Courts with JJC of Supreme Court of India on subject related to appropriate and effective implementation for Care and Protection of Children in Child Care Homes (CCH) or Child Care Institutions (CCI). The letter specified that the following actions are to be taken at every district level:

• Two or Three Medical Officers to be notified in respective district for any health related issues in the Child Care Homes/ Child Care Institutions, who shall attend as and when necessary. The names and contact No. of the Medical Offices are to be made available to the CCl/CCH.
• The services of 108 ambulances shall have to be utilised to bring sick children from the Child Care Institutions to the nearest Govt. Health Institutions where they shall be provided free treatment.
• The Jt. Director of Health Services shall take steps for Covid-19 vaccination to the staff working in Child Care Institutions, so that the inmates of the institutions are protected from infection.
• The Jt. Director of Health Services shall ensure the availability of necessary medicines free of cost in Govt, Hospitals for any child of the Child Care Institution who needs medical care.
• The team from District Mental Health Programme should visit the Child Care Institutions in a regular periodic manner to ensure both physical and mental health of the inmates.