The National Child Month Committee (NCMC) is encouraging parents, guardians, caregivers and the general public to ensure that children are treated extra special on National Children’s Day, Friday, May 20.
Chair of the NCMC, Dr. Pauline Mullings, told JIS News that Jamaica is the only country that has a month designated to children and is among few countries that observe a National Children’s Day.
Since 2012, the year Jamaica celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence, through a Proclamation by the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, the third Friday in May is celebrated annually as National Children’s Day.
On Friday, May 13, the NCMC, which is made up of members from over 23 governmental and non-governmental organizations, will journey to Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Black River and Spanish Town to interact with children on their way to school.
Some members of the committee will also be in Half-Way Tree and downtown Kingston, where they have been going for the past four years, to celebrate with children on their way to school.
Dr. Mullings explained that the committee has taken the decision to engage in Children’s Day activities a week before the official National Children’s Day because schools will be on mid-term break on May 20.
“We will be handing out tokens, giving words of encouragement, making the children feel special the same way parents feel special on Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day,” she said.
A free Children’s Health and Wellness Fair will be held on Saturday, May 28 in the Douglas Orane Auditorium, Wolmer’s Boys’ School, on Marescaux Road in Kingston.
According to Dr. Mullings, the health fair is in line with this year’s Child Month theme: ‘Healthy Children Build a Stronger Nation’.
Children living in the surrounding communities of Fletcher’s Land, Allman Town and Cross Roads will be able to access free eye and dental checks; hearing test; general check-up and counselling services from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sponsors for Child Month 2016 activities are: GraceKennedy, National Baking Company Foundation, Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, the National Health Fund, Caribbean Broilers, Scotiabank, KFC, Sagicor and the Management Institute for National Development (MIND).
Source: Jamaica Information Service