ARC Raises Concern Over Maldives’ First Covid Death of a Child, Calls for Answers from Authorities

For the past few days, headlines have been flooding with the news of the passing away of a child who was positive for Covid19, the first in the country since the onset of the pandemic. More alarmingly, 10-year-old Fathimath Mishka Mohamed’s death became a case of national concern in light of the incidents that happened on the night of her death, all which could have been handled better. 
 
ARC has raised concern and called upon relevant institutions to conduct a thorough, transparent and speedy investigation into the delay in deploying the ambulance in response to emergency calls from the family. ARC further stated deep concerns for the many reports of systematic failures affecting children’s right to adequate health care, given it has been more than one year since the pandemic began.  
 
 
The recent surge has been observed to be more threatening to the younger generation, with hundreds testing positive for Covid on a daily basis. An average of 80 children below the age of 10 and close to 400 newborns and children less than a year old have tested positive over the past month alone. ARC calls on the State to ensure that children’s right to health-care is realized to the fullest extent, especially during this critical time when children are at the disadvantage of not being eligible for COVID 19 vaccines that are being used in the Maldives. 
 
As the nation mourns this tragic loss, ARC sends prayers and condolences to the bereaved parents, family and friends for their unimaginable loss.