English Review
MoLISA asks to implement measures taking care of orphans by COVID-19
11:21 AM 2021-09-24
(LĐXH)- Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha has signed Official dispatch No. 3234/LDTBXH-TE sending to the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities on timely implementation of measures to take care of orphans by COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 1,500 children were orphaned by COVID-19 in HCMC
The Official dispatch stated that the COVID-19 pandemic situation has been complicated, especially in localities where the fourth “outbreak wave” has occurred. In Ho Chi Minh City and some provinces and cities, more than a thousand children have became orphans.
Therefore, the National Committee on Children and the MoLISA request provinces and cities to direct  the following contents:    
- Update the number, specific circumstances and conditions of each case who lost their fathers, mothers or parents by COVID-19 pandemic in order to appropriately help. 
- Fully implement social support policies for this group of children in accordance with the Government and MoLISA regulations; coordinate with the MoLISA to support children of pregnant mothers infected with COVID-19 and orphans by COVID-19 pandemic.
- Provide alternative care for children in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Children and Decree No. 56/2017/ND-CP dated May 9, 2017 of the Government detailing a number of articles of the Law on Children.
- Promulgate local policies and plans on immediate and long-term support, care and nurturing orphans by COVID-19 pandemic.
- To guide businesses, organizations and individuals to propose projects, plans and activities to support, care for and nurture orphans.
Localities need to proactively inform and coordinate with the MoLISA (via the Department of Child Affairs) if problems or emergencies arise related to orphans by COVID-19.
MoLISA requests the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities to implement the above contents.
According to the MoLISA, as of early September, the country has had 11,822 children infected with COVID-19 and the number of children whose parents died by COVID-19 has been increasing.   

In Ho Chi Minh City in particular, over 1,500 children were orphaned as of September 14, more than 490 of which are in primary school and 580 are in secondary school./.

Nguyen Thin