GEORGE TOWN: A total 299 children in Penang lost either one parent or both to Covid-19 since last year, the state legislative assembly was told today.
Of the total, 194 lost their fathers, who was the main breadwinner in their families, 78 children lost their mothers, six lost their guardians and four lost both parents.
From the total, 224 of them were from Malay families, 47 from Chinese families, 24 from Indian families and others (four).
State Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Arifin (PKR – Penanti) said, in terms of district, 95 of the children were from the northeast district, Seberang Prai Tengah (84 children), Seberang Prai Utara (46), southwest district (41) and Seberang Prai Selatan (33).
She said a total 142 or 47.7 per cent of them were still in primary schools, 152 or 50.8 per cent were in secondary schools and five or 1.7 per cent from religious schools.
“The state executive council (exco) has decided to set up a special task force to help these affected children in terms of their health and wellbeing, and ensure they are able to continue with their studies.
“This is because there are cases where children as young as 16 and 18-years-old stopped schooling to fend for their younger siblings after they ended up becoming orphans due to the death of both parents.
“We will rope in assistance from various departments and agencies such as the Welfare and Education Departments and others,” she said when responding to a question by Ong Ah Teong (DAP – Batu Lanchang).
Elaborating, Norlela said the Welfare Department was in contact with children affected by the pandemic to offer them counselling and support services besides other forms of assistance such as food baskets.
To a supplementary question by Azrul Mahathir Aziz (Amanah – Bayan Lepas), Norlela said she would check with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) whether the RM5,000 Covid-19 financial assistance could be extended to those who succumbed to long Covid-19.
“There were cases where patients, who were admitted and treated for Covid-19, ended up dead upon their discharge from hospitals about a month later. Are these people (families) eligible for Nadma’s financial assistance?
“Maybe we can suggest that Nadma’s financial assistance be extended to those who died due to long Covid, say about three months after they recover. This financial assistance will be of great help to their families,” Azrul added.
Source: New Straits Times
