$87 Million set aside to assist the Elderly

Approximately 67,500 elderly and disabled persons are to receive cash transfers under the Jamaica PATH Conditional Transfer Programme, this fiscal year.

As contained in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, $87 million has been allocated to carry out this and other activities. This includes the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation system; and conducting three activities for the elderly and disabled persons in each parish.

The programme, which is being funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, has the objective of improving the livelihood of about 10,000 poor and vulnerable elderly and disabled persons affected by the food, fuel and financial crisis, through cash transfers and improved outreach of the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH).

Up to March 2012, community outreach was carried out through sensitisation and mobilisation campaigns among parish offices. In addition, 10,000 new beneficiaries to PATH in the categories of elderly and disabled were registered.

Training and development and operational tests were also carried out for social workers at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and other relevant stakeholders on activities which link PATH beneficiaries to the different recipient’s social assistance programmes.

Additionally, household surveys were conducted and an inventory of the recipient’s social assistance and social care services available to poor and disabled persons, was prepared.

By Alecia Smith-Edwards, JIS Reporter