The People’s Advocate for children’s rights is concerned about the large number of children contaminated with the Covid 19 virus, and calls for the accountability of adults in child custody, and calls on the authorities to perform all the diligence to provide children and their mothers with whom they are admitted, with the highest quality services and medical care, corresponding conditions, psychological assistance, etc.
Under the conditions of the Coronavirus pandemic, children are more vulnerable, they are at increased risk of infection and require the highest quality medical services from the medical system and high attention from legal representatives.
At the country level there are alarming statistics, including the increase in the number of children contaminated with Covid-19. According to data presented by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, from April 9, at the Municipal Clinical Hospital for Contagious Diseases for Children, there were admitted 88 persons with Covid-19 infection. There are 61 children of the total number of the patients. At the Mother and Child Institute “Emilian Cotaga”, there are 7 children out of the total number of 13 patients.
After evaluation of the actions taken by authorities aimed at stopping the spread of the infection, including the decision to close the educational institutions to limit the contact and contamination of children, the People’s Advocate for children’s rights, Maia Banarescu expresses her concern regarding the growing number of children contaminated with Covid19, as well as, in relation to the source of infection, and the conditions of treatment and care.
The Children’s Ombudsman requested the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, the National Agency for Public Health to provide information regarding the situation of children under the conditions of the pandemic, namely on the number of contaminated children with Covid 19 virus infection, and the source of infection, on the level of endowment within medical institutions with medicines, medical equipment and other necessary equipment, including ventilators, information about the conditions of children in the treatment period, their nutrition in the medical institutions and the protection equipment of the medical personnel within these institutions. The Children’s Ombudsman also asks if there has been developed the National Clinical Protocol for children “New Type Coronavirus (Covid-19)”.
In this context, the People’s Advocate for children’s rights asks the field related authorities to do all the diligence, in order to provide children with medical services and care, and rehabilitation of the highest quality, corresponding conditions and nutrition, psychological assistance, etc., for the children and mothers with whom they are hospitalized.
The increase in the number of infected children, according to the opinion of the People’s Advocate for children’s rights, generates questions regarding ensuring compliance with the rules established to prevent the spread of the Covid 19 virus, by adults who have children in their care and whether the children themselves observe these rules. It is obvious that adults need to be aware of the risks to which children are subjected and to supervise compliance with the recommendations for the pandemic period by all family members.
The Children’s Ombudsman draws the attention of parents and other legal representatives of children to their obligation and responsibility to take all measures to create the maximum security conditions to avoid child illness, especially contamination with Covid 19. Also, the Ombudsman warns the responsible authorities and asks the medical workers, social assistants, community policemen, tutelary authorities to monitor the situation of socially vulnerable families and / or other families with children, who are in a difficult situation during the pandemic and to intervene with the necessary support, including information regarding compliance with the rules for preventing the spread of the virus and avoiding the contamination with Covid 19 virus.
Maia Banarescu, the People’s Advocate for children’s rights, calls on children, parents, legal representatives to be more responsible, to ensure their best health. Only by maximizing the responsibility of each of us, as citizens, and by combining joint efforts with the responsible public authorities, we will be able to minimize the spread and avoid contamination with Covid 19 virus.
