A tragic incident occurred on August 28 at preschool education institution No. 6 in the city of Ohangaron, Tashkent region. A child born in 2023 ingested an insecticide. The child was rushed to hospital, but doctors were unable to save his life. The press service of the Tashkent regional department of preschool and school education reported the incident.

According to available information, the child's grandmother worked as a cook in the kindergarten's kitchen for an outsourcing company. The incident reportedly happened when the child entered the kitchen to see his grandmother. This raises serious questions about how the child was left unsupervised and why a dangerous chemical was kept within his reach.

Competent authorities are currently investigating how the child entered the kitchen, why the hazardous substance was stored in an accessible place, and who was responsible for its safekeeping. The investigation and inquiry are ongoing, and final conclusions will be drawn only based on their results. Officials stated that all aspects of the incident will be thoroughly examined, and those found guilty will be held accountable under the law.

This tragedy once again highlights the weakness of child protection mechanisms in Uzbekistan's education and upbringing system. Earlier, a case of violence against a girl in a Namangan kindergarten also exposed the absence of strict standards and protocols for child safety. The Ohangaron case, which occurred because a kindergarten child was left unattended, reinforces this view.

Experts emphasize that child protection must be based on strict standards and protocols mandatory for all children's institutions and staff. To prevent such tragedies, it is necessary to strictly control the storage of hazardous substances in preschool institutions, as well as access by unauthorized persons, including relatives of employees, to kitchens and other service areas. Otherwise, negligence and lack of oversight may once again claim the lives of innocent children.

Source: www.gazeta.uz