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Contact:
Julita Peter
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - Health and Human Services Minister Hon.
Damien Greaves has pledged financial assistance to the Child Development and
Guidance Centre.
Speaking at the official opening of the newly constructed facility last Friday,
Minister Greaves said “while the Ministry’s health professionals had been
assisting the centre, the Ministry has been tardy in some areas”.
According to Mr. Greaves, along with educational pursuits, the centre caters to
the health needs of children with disabilities. In light of that he suggested
that it should be brought fully under the program of the Child and Adolescent
Health Care of the Ministry.
“There are ongoing assessments and diagnoses for children with physical mental,
emotional and behavioural problems; there have been intervention programs that
have taken into account, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy,
occupational therapy and early stimulation, but what is most important of this
centre is that the centre will promote the right of children to health care and
education in safe, secure and loving environments. And therefore, we have no
choice but to support it”, Minister Greaves said.
The Health Minister further called on the centre to work along with his Ministry
in developing a sensitization program that would educate the public on the
challenges of children living with disabilities. He said that the Ministry of
Health was fully aware of the challenges facing children and was now negotiating
on acquiring a property for the establishment of a transit home for troubled
children.
Meantime, Education Officer for Special Needs Mrs. Cynthia Weeks said the
Ministry commended and supported the efforts of the administrators of the
centre. She also called on the public to lend support: “We must play out part in
seeking a better quality of life for our children with disabilities, and the
children with disability are in this situation not through their own choosing or
their fault. Let us rally behind CDGC and Dr. Shuling; I want to tell you to
keep up the good work; the Ministry of education supports you”.
The new facility was built through donations from local corporate sponsors and a
German association.
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