Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
Chicky, the KFC mascot greets students of St. Cecelia Preparatory while Minister of Health John Junor (fourth left), and Brian St.Juste, board member of the Jamaica Foundation for Children look on during the launch of Childrens' Expo at the Hilton Kingston Hotel on Tuesday. The Expo will be held between May 12-15 at the National Arena under the theme: 'Instilling Positive Values, Securing Our Children's Future'.- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
HEALTH MINISTER, John Junor, has called for more community involvement in efforts to prevent the abuse of children.
Minister Junor made the call while addressing the launch of Children's Expo 2005 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel this week. Children's Expo 2005 will be held this year from April 12-15 at the National Arena.
He said there was a clear need for more members of the society to take a stand against violent acts and maltreatment of children. "It is amazing how many children suffer from depression because they don't feel wanted, they are in an environment where they don't feel that they fit."
Minister Junor said, "A child might very well be overwhelmed at that particular moment by a particular problem that they face and what they need at that particular moment is someone who is there for them in their corner who makes them know that."
GUILTY
He said, under the Child Care and Protection Act, persons who are aware or know of children being abused but fail to report this are guilty of an offence.
Similarly, he says, where reports are made to the Child Development Agency (CDA) and the agency fails to take appropriate action, the agency would also be guilty of an offence.
Meanwhile, chief executive officer of the CDA, Allison Anderson, said more persons should play a proactive role in safeguarding children from abuse.
According to her while there are services available for children who have been abused, it is sometimes difficult to identify those who are in need of assistance.
She said: "If it is not for the community mobilisation and the involvement of the family in reaching out to services for that child, then it is not possible for those services to reach the child because it is simple not possible for 70 or 80 social workers or even 120 social workers to find each and every child."
Miss Anderson said that in terms of child abuse and maltreatment "silence is very deadly".
