Institutionalising forensic sciences and medicine in centres for newly arrived unaccompanied minors: A case study from Milano

Cummaudo, Marco; Merelli, Vera; Angelis, Danilo De; Magli, Francesca; Maggioni, Lidia; Tambuzzi, Stefano; Lanza, Giulia; Palazzo, Chiara; Colombo, Asher Daniel; Lucchesi, Barbara; Montedoro, Paola; Agostinelli, Immacolata; Marognoli, M.; Marando, L.; A, Senatore; Mazzoni, Rossana; Trezzi, Sofia; Fornoni, Chiara; Torlasco, G; Cattaneo, Cristina

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2021.102297

Cited by 1 publication

(4 citation statements)

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“…In addition, a rapid diagnosis also allows the operators to keep working regularly and continue to be the main reference point for all the hosted unaccompanied minors. Indeed, during their stay, minors are assisted by operators who have the crucial task of helping these children and adolescents to face a socio-cultural reality which is often extremely different from the one they are used to [ 6 ]. This issue may be particularly challenging due to the linguistic, cultural and social differences linked to the heterogeneity of the migrants hosted [ 11 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data on COVID-19’s effects on migrant morbidity and mortality are scarce; however, migrants residing in refugee camps, detention or reception facilities are at a heightened risk for the virus [ 2 , 5 ]. This statistic should not be overlooked because, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at the end of 2020, Europe alone was home to over 6.7 million migrants [ 6 , 7 ]. Moreover, it should never be overlooked that among migrants there are also minors (under the age of 18), whose percentage has been estimated at 38% by UNHCR [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This statistic should not be overlooked because, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at the end of 2020, Europe alone was home to over 6.7 million migrants [ 6 , 7 ]. Moreover, it should never be overlooked that among migrants there are also minors (under the age of 18), whose percentage has been estimated at 38% by UNHCR [ 6 , 7 ]. Furthermore, minors are very often unaccompanied, and this condition of additional fragility requires a higher level of protection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, minors are very often unaccompanied, and this condition of additional fragility requires a higher level of protection. With the aim of guaranteeing special protective measures for these minors, the European Union enacted the Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors 2010–2014 [ 6 , 8 ]. In response, some countries strengthened already existing protective measures for unaccompanied foreign minors and introduced new ones.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Pilot COVID-19 Surveillance Program at the Zendrini Center in Milan (Italy) for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors

et al. 2022

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, not only crowded refugee camps and immigration detention centers, but also receptions were places in which outbreaks occurred. To date there has been no report of the application of a COVID-19 surveillance system in reception centers for unaccompanied foreign minors only, who most of all deserve the utmost attention. Aware of this critical issue, we implemented a pilot COVID-19 surveillance program at the Zendrini center in Milan. It was started in September 2021 and was carried out for 4 months. Nasopharyngeal antigenic swabs were adopted. One day a week, two forensic physicians performed the first antigenic swab to minors who had just entered the center, or a monitoring swab after 15 days to those who were still hosted at the center. Operators were also swabbed for surveillance. A total of 80 subjects were enrolled and divided into 68 (72.5%) unaccompanied foreign minors and 22 (27.5%) operators. A total of 178 antigenic nasopharyngeal swabs were performed and tested negative. Regarding the monitoring activities, it was found that the minimum number of swabs per subject was 1 and the maximum number was 7, with an average value of 2.2 per individual. Having been able to confirm the absence of SARS-CoV-2 within the community represented a way to protect individual and collective health that could not have been pursued otherwise. Only inclusive approaches can allow communities and societies to respond more effectively to this crisis, and reduce the risk of future ones, intended as both upcoming COVID-19 waves and new infectious diseases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%