The Office of the Children’s Commissioner revealed alarming issues in ten municipalities with high Roma populations in the Prešov and Košice regions. Monitoring since May 2024 showed severe problems in education, access to water, healthcare, and infrastructure. Over 6,100 children missed 1.3 million school hours, with half of absences excused by parents. Many children lack proper meals, and seven out of ten schools lack after-school programs. Access to clean water is limited, and there is a high incidence of infectious diseases and teen pregnancies. Commissioner Jozef Mikloško is urging for an immediate action from ministries, local governments, and NGOs. A meeting in late January will address the crisis.
Source: TASR
Patrícia Polakovičová, Photo: TASR
