WCJF to Establish Centre for Teenage Mothers in St. Catherine
By: , February 29, 2024
Photo: Donald De la Haye
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (right, seated), is embraced by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, during the handover of a wellness bench to the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF). The bench, which was donated by the Health Ministry, was presented during a brief ceremony at the WCJF’s office in Kingston. Looking on are (from left) Director of Adolescent Mental Health, Dr. Judith Leiba; Government Senator, Dr. Saphire Longmore; WCJF Chair, Debby-Ann Brown Salmon, and Executive Director, Novelette Howell.The Full Story
A Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) facility for teenaged mothers is to be established in St. Catherine.
Minister of Culture Gender Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, who made the announcement, said the Centre’s establishment in the parish is critical as the Foundation continues work to ensure that young women in that part of the island are able to access its services.
“St. Catherine is one of the fastest growing parishes in relation to [the] population in Jamaica… [and] we will be establishing [the] Centre… to treat with the needs of our teenage mothers,” Ms. Grange said.
She was speaking during Thursday’s (February 28) handover ceremony for a wellness bench donated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to the WCJF.
The presentation was made at the Foundation’s office in Kingston.
Ms. Grange said the WCJF has been effective in its mandate to assist teenaged mothers in achieving their academic goals and empowering them to make wise choices for the future.
“For the last decade, the rate of repeat pregnancy remained below two per cent. It means that the Centre is doing something good,” she noted.
The Foundation is currently providing assistance to some 500 adolescent mothers across the island.
“This Centre is among the most important organisations in Jamaica, operating in the interest of our young women, in particular a number of our young women whose advances were paused by teenage pregnancy. We are proud of the record of assistance by the Centre, which has resulted in successful young women,” Minister Grange said.
One of the Foundation’s priority engagements, the programme for Adolescent Mothers, is aimed at assisting pregnant girls, 17 and under, to continue their secondary education.
Under the programme, girls who have dropped out of school due to pregnancy are allowed to continue their education at the nearest WCJF centres for at least one term and are subsequently returned to the formal school system after the birth of their babies.