In this correspondence in the Lancet, the authors express their concerns regarding children in residential institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the release of these children back to their communities "without proper consideration of where they will reside, how their transition will be supported, and whether their safety will be monitored." The authors "urge authorities to undertake carefully planned measures with respect to deinstitutionalisation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic," outlining three key considerations. The authors further "urge donors to focus on supporting family-based and community-based programmes and services for children, including those who find themselves orphaned or homeless after the pandemic."
View the letter here.
