Child protectors express adoption challenges during lockdown
FAIRVALE – The impact of the Covid-19 lockdown has been severe.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown period has impacted everyone’s lives in some way or another, not least of all child protection organisations.
According to National Adoption Coalition South Africa (Nacsa), there are many organisations that work with abandoned babies and unplanned pregnancies. These children are cared for in various child and youth care centres or temporary safe care facilities.
Among the centres also facing the challenge is Impilo Child Protection and Adoption Centre in Fairvale, north-east of Johannesburg, which has also reiterated the challenges faced in their monthly newsletter issued by the centre’s operations director, Sue Krawitz.
The centre said the impact of the Covid-19 curfew during the lockdown had been severe especially the inability to raise funds.
According to Krawitz, some of their caregivers were in lockdown with the centre’s children and said this was an amazing sacrifice.
“Adoption processes are being delayed due to the limited functioning of the Department of Social Development and Justice, the lockdown of most homes and worldwide travel restrictions,” said the centre in their newsletter.
The centre is calling on potential sponsors to extend a helping hand to ease their current burden.
Nacsa said most children have come into the child protection system after being abandoned by their mothers, either in hospital after giving birth or at safe or unsafe places around the city.
“Other babies are voluntarily given up for adoption by their birth mothers,” said Pamela Wilson of Nacsa.
“It often takes several months to complete all the legal requirements necessary to make a baby adoptable and during this time, the babies and young children need to be cared for in temporary, safe, care facilities or child and youth care facilities.
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“Due to the Covid-19 situation, many of the caregivers in these facilities are spending the 21-day lockdown permanently with the children to avoid using public transport to and from the facility, leaving their own families to care for these vulnerable babies and children during this time. Their commitment is greatly appreciated.”
Many of these care facilities rely heavily on committed volunteers who play a vital role in the optimal functioning of baby nurseries by helping with the day to day care, stimulation and nurturing of the children and support of caregivers, as well as playing the role of ‘buddy’ to the children.
Details: impilo1@telkomsa.net
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https://northeasterntribune.co.za/266325/financial-implications-covid-19-retirement-communities/
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