Four social workers fired, social agency official resigns over case of death of 4-year-child

Four social workers have been dismissed and the head of the Social Programmes Department of the Social Service Agency of the Ministry of Health have resigned after the death of a four-year-old child in the Sanzona district of Tbilisi on 22 January.

The emergency service was called by the parents of the child on that day, but medics said the girl was already dead.

Neighbours told the media that the child was frequently harmed by her mother and father-in-law and her death could have been caused by physical violence.

The police were contacted on 6 January and told the child had been beaten, after which a restraining order was placed against the mother.

On 22 January, an investigation was launched into negligence resulting in death.

They also detained the deceased’s mother for violating her restraining order.

Georgian Health Minister says that the state social policy will change. Photo: Health Ministry press office. 

The woman has already been sent to pre-trial detention.

The results of the autopsy on the girls body have not been released yet. If it is confirmed that her death was caused by violence, additional charges may be brought against the detainee and her husband.

The detainee does not admit to the crime and says that the child had autism and used to harm herself.

There are questions as to why the Social Service Agency did not take away the child from her parents if they knew about the possible threat to her life and health, especially after the police issued the order against the mother.

The Health Ministry says that they carried out an internal audit after the fatality took place which revealed possible indifference and the irresponsibility of four social workers.

The audit materials have been sent to states bodies for further investigation,” the Health Ministry says.

Health Minister David Sergeenko has announced plans regarding a “systemic reform in social policy.”