LIHU‘E — Toni Torres, the public health nursing supervisor at the Kaua‘i District Health Office, said the Girl Scouts are safe at home, Wednesday afternoon.
LIHU‘E — Toni Torres, the public health nursing supervisor at the Kaua‘i District Health Office, said the Girl Scouts are safe at home, Wednesday afternoon.
Traditionally, the Girl Scouts from various troops gather at the parking lot of the Kaua‘i District Health Office to plant the symbolic blue pinwheels marking April as Prevent Child Abuse month. Instead, the scouts, complying with the Gov. David Ige Stay-at-Home order created to prevent the spread of COVID-19, were replaced by essential workers from the state’s Department of Health workers to plant the pinwheels on the lawn of the Kaua‘i District Health Office.
“During times like this COVID-19 crisis, there is an increase in the number of calls for domestic abuse and child abuse,” said Dave Sharma of the DOH Division of Family Health Services.
Child Abuse Prevention month is traditionally observed in April to raise awareness and empower people across the nation to play a role in helping children, families, and entire communities thrive.
The coronavirus disease pandemic has upended the lives of children and their families as health systems buckle, borders close, and schools and businesses shutter, states the UNICEF website.
Increased rates of abuse and exploitation of children have taken place during previous public health emergencies, states a UNICEF March 20 report.
PreventChildAbuse.org offers a wealth of positive suggestions on how to deal with young children and the stress of dealing with COVID-19.
