1,588 cases of child neglect were received by Child Services from 2012 to 2018.

Child Services Acting Director Ela Tukutukulevu says the highest was recorded in 2017 which is 416 cases.

Tukutukulevu says awareness raised by the Social Welfare Department has seen decreases over the years.

“What was high for us was Child Neglect, if we trend Child Neglect cases to 2018 that also remains the highest although there has been a slight decrease in the cases. I believe that it is all due to the various awareness programmers that the department tales on in the different communities that they work in.”

Tukutukulevu says these cases involve children not being looked after, children not provided food, and medical care to name a few.

The Child Services Department also referred some cases to appropriate stakeholders and in extreme cases took the children away from parents for their own safety.