Olga Isaza | Prioritise child-centred policies for a brighter future

The New Year gives Jamaica an opportunity to focus on the national conversation about children. There is no doubt that the society continues to be impacted by the devastating news reports involving children who are victims of crime. Other headlines highlight vulnerable children living in poverty, lacking access to quality education, adequate healthcare, proper nutrition, and effective social-protection services. The situations of these children, including those severely affected by climate-related disasters such as Hurricane Beryl, are of deep concern for UNICEF.

We are calling on policymakers to recognise the urgency of the immediate need to save children’s lives and take decisions that place the best interests of children at the heart of national development. Parents, family members, and the community must unite to provide nurturing environments, safeguard children’s rights, and prioritise their well-being, ensuring that every child can contribute to a brighter future.

The aspirations expressed by children in the Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan for a safe, healthy, and fulfilling future, must guide policy decisions. This roadmap reinforces the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by emphasising the creation of a secure, cohesive, and just society where children and youth are empowered to not only survive but thrive. It aligns with UNICEF’s advocacy for children’s rights to be fulfilled through stronger systems, driven by data, to support the provision of health and education services, including mental health and nutrition as well as social protection.

UNICEF’s involvement as a development partner highlights the positive impact that can be achieved by prioritising policies that focus on the needs and well-being of children. Last year, UNICEF, along with local and global government partners and donors, played an integral role in producing national data on children and women with the release of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) Report, which provided much-needed information on 160 indicators ranging from health, education, social protection and nutrition to adolescent empowerment, sanitation, and hygiene. The report ensures that Jamaica has the highest-quality data for taking action for the country’s 700,000 children. For the first time, data on children with functional difficulties were disaggregated within the overall results.

COMMON AND WIDESPREAD

Additionally, the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey Report, which showed that violence against children was common and widespread, provided insights that will enable decision-makers to make significant investments in violence prevention and response efforts. UNICEF hosted “data to action” seminars with stakeholders and developed an action plan to implement the cross-sectoral recommendations.

Our impact on the health of children and families was far-reaching, with the establishment of the country’s first public sector oxygen plant with the support of the Canadian government, serving as the primary source of medical oxygen at the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital. UNICEF’s approach to addressing barriers to breastfeeding resulted in more than 50 per cent of the island’s major hospitals now meeting international standards for breastfeeding support. Bolstering the Government’s work to ensure adolescent health and well-being was high on our agenda. In 2024, more than 53,000 young people received life skills education, mental health support, and sexual and reproductive health services through multiple platforms including two Teen Hubs located in Kingston and St Thomas. Since its opening in June 2023, the St Thomas Teen Hub has had more than 12,000 visits up to November last year, affirming the need for this vital community resource.

UNICEF is co-leading the call with young people for policies to improve the food environment for children and adolescents, addressing challenges such as inadequate food labelling and marketing of unhealthy foods. The National School Nutrition Policy is now before Cabinet for approval, and preparations for implementation are under way. Recommendations from the first Youth Mental Health Summit were presented for consideration in drafting a mental health and psychosocial support services policy that places children and youth at the centre.

STRENGTHENING EDUCATION SYSTEM

Strengthening the education system through technology-based innovations is critical for UNICEF, which is the reason we supported the pilot of the Education Management Information System in 2023. We are now supporting the first phase of the national rollout across 245 schools. As part of a UN SDG Joint Programme on Digital Transformation for Education, we will continue to support the full scale-up of the EMIS and add components that focus on school nutrition and strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy over the next two years. The end goal is to improve the capabilities of administrators and teachers to use data-driven decisions to improve life outcomes for 450,000 students.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, UNICEF assisted the Government to reach more than 11,000 children living in poverty and adolescent mothers through cash transfers as well as social and psychosocial support services and worked to expand the direct-assistance programme for people with disabilities. UNICEF prioritised water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) support to safeguard public health and prevent the spread of waterborne diseases. This included the distribution of containers to households for safe water storage. Affected families also received hygiene kits containing essential items such as detergents, sanitary supplies, and disinfectants.

Further, UNICEF worked with local authorities to install water tanks in key areas and deliver community education sessions on proper hygiene practices during emergencies. Primary school children in the affected communities were also equipped with life skills to build their resilience in the event of hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires.

UNICEF is resolute in supporting the Government, civil society, and stakeholders in achieving results at scale for children with the help of partners and donors. Let this year of decision be one in which bold action takes place to create a safer and more equitable future for children. UNICEF urges every parent, guardian, concerned citizen, and decision-maker to engage in a collective commitment and take immediate action to be vigilant in protecting every child, ensuring that they are nurtured and empowered to reach their full potential because they deserve to live a healthy, safe, and fulfilling life regardless of their background and circumstances.

Olga Isaza is the representative of UNICEF Jamaica. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com