Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
THE ROVING Caregivers Programme, a rural non-governmental organisation programme based in the parish of Clarendon is in jeopardy because of lack of funding.
The programme, which is spearheaded by the Rural Family Support Organisation, is a home-visiting early stimulation and parenting initiative, which was designed to provide enrichment to young children from birth to age three years.
But according to Eda Golding, project officer of the programme, funding for the programme came to an end in December.
FUNDING ENDED
"Our major problem is funding for the paying of stipend for the roving caregiver," she said.
"It was sponsored by the Bernard van Leer Foundation and UNICEF, but UNICEF funding came to an end in December of 2005 so we don't have the matching amount to pay these persons," she added.
She said while the organisation has been soliciting funding to continue with the programme, it has been unsuccessful.
Miss Golding said the other option was to lay off some of the caregivers.
She said the programme needs about $2.5 million to continue to make a significant impact on the community.
Member of Parliament for Clarendon Central, Mike Henry brought the problems being faced by the programme to the attention of Parliament's Human Re-sources and Social Development Committee yesterday.
Mr. Henry told The Gleaner that he had made representation to the Prime Minister to assist the programme with funds from the PetroCaribe Initiative. However, the Prime Minister told him the loans secured under PetroCaribe were not for that.
Since its inception in 1993,
the programme has positively impacted the lives of some 20,000 children and 12,000 parents per year.
