CPFSA Launches ‘Paediatric Pulse’

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) today, May 10, launched its ‘Paediatric Pulse’ booklet at The Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in Kingston. Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA, Rosalee Gage-Grey, who gave the welcome and opening remarks, said the booklet is a resource guide for medical practitioners, caregivers and the wider society about common illnesses and how to respond to them.

“This is indeed very timely, as it will provide practitioners with critical information as to how to react and mitigate specific illnesses as well as give tips to promote good paediatric health,” she said.

A Serious Case Review Panel is responsible for the compilation of the booklet. The panel is made up of paediatric practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists, and representatives from the Ministry of Health and the CPFSA.

Director of Children and Family Programmes at the CPFSA, Audrey Budhi, while giving an overview said the panel forms part of the critical effort to manage and reduce the risk of harm to children.

“They examine the critical incidence involving hospitalisation and deaths and then make a determination as to whether all reasonable actions have been taken to investigate and report the circumstances of the incidence to the relevant and appropriate authorities,” she said.

“They also look at whether all reasonable actions have been taken to ensure that the safety and health needs of the children involved have been met, and if remedial and corrective actions have been taken by the relevant officers against possible future occurrences,” she added.

Ms. Budhi said it was as a result of the proactive approach to do something for the children’s home and the wider society that a seminar was held and the information was used to compile Paediatic Pulse.

Meanwhile, Vice President of the Paediatric Association of Jamaica and Chairperson of the Serious Case Review Panel, Dr. Carolyn Pinnock Jackson, said the booklet will be an important tool for the health of the children in residential care facilities and can also be used by any parent in Jamaica.

The 23-page booklet speaks to various common illnesses, such as vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, fever, coughing and wheezing. Main sponsor of Paediatric Pulse is Cari-Med Limited.