Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
The GraceKennedy Foundation annual lecture, given by Maureen Samms-Vaughan, entitled 'Children Caught In The Crossfire', was held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, on Tuesday. In photo is lecturer Maureen Samms-Vaughan (left) and Governor-General, His Excellency Professor Kenneth Hall. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
DR. MAUREEN Samms-Vaughan, chairman of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), on Tuesday painted a dismal picture of the status of children in Jamaica, during her presentation at the GraceKennedy Foundation's annual lecture.
The lecture entitled 'Children caught in the Crossfire', touched on a variety of interrelated influences that affect children's chances and lifestyle.
Dr. Samms-Vaughan's presentation was based on evidence from several studies that have been conducted. She said Jamaica's children live in challenging times, much of which is created by adults.
Dr. Samms-Vaughan told the packed room of guests at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, that research has shown that poverty is one of the four factors that impact all aspects of the development of six-year-olds. According to her, poverty affects the growth, cognitive function, educational attainment and behavioural outcomes.
She noted that poor Jamaican children present more problem behaviours than their wealthier peers.
Dr. Samms-Vaughan, who is also a paediatrician, told the gathering that children are often caught in the crossfire of relationships between their parents and relationships within families. "Parents break and make relationships, often without understanding the emotions of the children caught in the family."
As it relates to HIV/AIDS, Dr. Samms-Vaughan said a larger proportion of children are affected than infected. She noted that they are affected by the stigma, discrimination and marginalisation.
She said a review of the daily newspapers in 2005 made it clear that children are at risk.
"Crime and violence and children at risk now exceed articles on education. Children at risk include accidental death, child prostitution and children in children's home," she said.
DANGERS BEFORE BIRTH
The ECC chairman said violence begins to exert its impact on children before they are born. She said mothers who are exposed to violence and other forms of stress produce the hormone cortisol which travels through the placenta and impairs normal brain development.
She also noted that children experience psychological and emotional trauma as a result of violence.
Dr. Samms-Vaughan said children living in violent circumstances remain hyper-alert of their environments, as they must respond to the rapidly changing environment to ensure their survival. This hyper-alertness, she said, prevents them from focusing and paying attention in school and results in poor performance.
