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April 9, 2009
World Health Day – Caring for our Children
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Parents of students at the Campbell’s Castle All Age School in South Manchester, now have a better understanding of their role as parents.
As a part of its community outreach initiatives, Jamalco in collaboration with the Child Development Agency, Rural Agricultural Development Agency and Ministry of Health in Manchester, organized a fair/expo to commemorate World Health Day on April 7th under the theme “Caring for our Childrenâ€. Seventy-six parents benefited from this forum.
Parent, Byron Thomas who has two children attending the school said he learnt a lot about parenting, because “after all of what I was exposed to today, I know I am now a better fatherâ€.
Highlighting the importance of communication in the parent/child relationship, Assistant Health Education Officer from the Ministry of Health Sherene Reid encouraged the parents to listen to their children. She further implored them to set standards and maintain respect for their children.
Child Development Agency (CDA) representative Valda Crew stressed the importance of “parents being proactive rather than reactiveâ€. Noting the CDA’s a responsibility to protect the nation’s children, she pointed out that “good parenting begins with loving one’s children without spoiling them.â€
Mrs. Griffiths from RADA focused on nutrition and highlighted the importance of parents ensuring that their children eat the right kinds of food. She took the time out to illustrate to the parents how to make sweet cassava punch, pumpkin punch and carrot fritters.
At the end of the presentations, the parents viewed displays that focused on nutrition, mental health and parenting skills among others.
Grandmother Ethel Anson of Campbell’s Castle who attended the expo, thought that the presentations were “very nice, and interesting†and encouraged Jamalco representatives to sponsor such programmes more frequently, “especially for the younger parentsâ€.
This health fair was one of several Jamalco’s initiatives held in neighbouring schools and communities in the company’s operating area under the Jamalco in Schools Programme.
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