The state of care homes and its residents well being is a major priority for Government.
Especially for children living in residential homes.
July statistics obtained from the Ministry of Children note there were 1 hundred and 68 children living in eleven residential homes.
The Ministry has allocated $1.2 million to its Care and Protection Program next year which will also include an allowance increase to the children residing in such homes to $120 per month.
The Care and Protection Allowance is a social protection scheme specifically targeted at assisting poor and vulnerable children through providing monthly cash allowances and the food vouchers.
“Our key emphasis in 2016 will be raising the bar and seeing we have standards and monitoring to see that the organizations actually meet up to the compliance standards. We basically want to see that level of care for children really get internationally best practices,” said the permanent secretary for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Josefa Koroivueta.
The $200,000 allocation to its National Aging Policy for 2016 will also improve the level of care to the eight institutions that look after the senior citizens.
“The Ministry aims to raise the standards of care. Not only within the homes that look after the children whether its State administered home or ones run by NGOs. And also the homes for the elderly citizens of the land,” added Dr. Koroivueta.