The government of Albania continues to support children, parents and relatives of the police officers and other individuals who perished in the line of duty while saving lives of other people by awarding them the Child under the Republic’s Care status.
After an initial group of 15 children to be granted this special status, five more kids were awarded the Child under the Republic’s Care Status after the new applications were examined, honouring their parents’ sublime action sacrificing their own lives in the line of duty while saving lives of other citizens’ lives.
Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu, welcomed at his office and handed over the special status to the children of three former police officers, namely Shkëlzen Dobrushi, Roland Likaj and Artan Çuku, accompanied by family members and relatives.
“In its last meeting, the Central Committee for Children under the Republic’s Care has decided to award this status to the children of three police officers killed in the line of duty, namely Shkëlzen Dobrushi, Roland Likaj and Artan Çuku. It is definitely a significant help already made operational, because since the Committee’s meeting in December the whole procedures and documents have been filled and prepared to provide all the benefits and the special status to these children and this is also a help for their families,” the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu said.
On his par, Prime Minister Rama noted that the support for orphaned children who have lost their parents in the line of duty and will remain a top government priority, especially in the area of education and the government will provide maximum support in this respect.
“It has been our primary concern and we have frequently discussed and agreed this is something we can’t tackle by providing a modest help like the one previously in place, because they are practically children who lose one of their parents, who was employed and used to receive a monthly salary to provide for their families. That’s why we thought to provide an additional pay not just equal to their previous monthly wages, but an extra payment to make sure that at least economically these kids face no difficulties and are not deprived of anything. These children will also be provided additional education opportunities. This could be somehow a delayed decision, but we didn’t know and we still don’t know everything, but we learn in the process how to improve and do things better. In this aspect too and granting this status to these children make us feel really happy, because this way we meet their financial needs. Of course, we would never be able to fill the spiritual void even if this pay was to be five times higher. However, I think these children are also aware of their parents’ sacrifice and will honour their parents and make them smile when seen them from heaven.”
