Number of children at

CEO of the Malé orphanage, “Kudakudhinge Hiyaa”, Zeenath Adnaan has said that the number of children registered at the orphanage has risen to 120.

Speaking on TVM’s “Raajje Miadhu” (Maldives Today) program last night, Zeenath said that although the number was at 100 in May, the number has risen by more than16 percent in six months or so.

She said that they are also hiring more employees as the number of children at the orphanage rises. And so there are about 100 employees working at the orphanage.

“We have worked to train the employees further. And so a number of professional development programs targeted to the employees were conducted. Now 20 of those programs have been conducted.” Zeenath said.

Zeenath said that the main objective of the orphanage is to provide the best care and protection to the children at the orphanage.

“We are looking to put children who can go to schools to get them in (to schools). And within 24 hours of their arrival at “Hiyaa” (orphanage), a special checkup is done.” Zeenath said.

She said that there are special medical officers at the orphanage to look after the children’s health and charts are established for the children’s dietary needs.

Highlighting the works to increase security of the children, Zeenath said that cameras have been installed at the orphanage.

Speaking at a press conference last month, Attorney General Mohamed Anil said that most of the children at the orphanage are children that their parents have neglected to look after and there are about 45 children at the orphanage that have been taken in by the state.

While there are 30 children with no one to look after them, 14 children at the orphanage are victims of sexual abuse and 15 children are victims of physical abuse.