By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SHAH ALAM, Dec 7 — A total of 55 students in the state have since lost both their parents due to Covid-19, according to state executive councillor for public health and family Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud.
Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said Hulu Langat, Klang, and Petaling Perdana were among the districts with the highest number of children who lost one or both parents, due to Covid-19.
The figures are from January 2020 until September this year.
“The State Education Department records indicated a total of 1,648 students endured the loss of one parent during that period, while 55 lost both parents.
“We are very concerned about the plight of these children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19, and have implemented several support measures to help them,” she said.
Dr Siti was responding to a question from Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei, on the number of children who became orphans and who lost both their parents due to Covid-19, during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly here today.
She said one of the steps taken is to find one or more suitable guardians to look after the orphans.
Otherwise, they will be temporarily placed in the institutional care of the Social Welfare Department.
“So far, all cases of children who became orphans and who lost both their parents due to Covid-19 in Selangor have been taken in by their next of kin,” she said.
