Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Donna Cox, visited a Longdenville family of nine (9)children this afternoon, in an effort to render assistance to the family.
Minister Cox was accompanied by a team of technical officers from the Ministry.
Previous to the visit the Ministry, through its National Social Development Programme (NSDP) contacted Ms Jagessar and obtained relevant information on the household situation and an assessment on the family’s immediate requirements was also completed.
During the visit, the Minister presented the family with a market box and food hampers courtesy NAMDEVCO and shared information on the various grants and services which are offered by the Ministry.
She indicated that she was pleased to see a whole of Government approach towards rendering assistance to the family in need. In this regard, she indicated that both the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Education were contacted to also make an intervention, particularly as the children had no birth papers nor were they enrolled in any school.
Additionally, it has been determined that the family currently resides on state lands, and is in possession of a Certificate of Comfort and as such the MSDFS contacted the Land Settlement Agency to provide their non-objection for the client to conduct necessary repairs. During the visit the Ministry was able to get copies of relevant documentation in this regard.
According to the Minister, “Ongoing efforts will be made to bring the family out of their situation, where opportunities for a better quality of life will be explored in the shortest possible time”.
Further to this, representatives from the Ministry’s National Family Services Division(NFSD) has scheduled counselling sessions and other psychosocial support to assist the family.
The family has received numerous food hampers, as well as a fridge and a stove from persons who reached out.
Additionally, through referrals made by the NFSD, the Ministry of Legal Affairs has been providing assistance with regard to obtaining birth certificates and ID cards for the family.
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