On Monday the 30th of March the Rotary Club of Montego Bay visited the Women's Centre of Jamaica Foundation at Brandon Hill in Montego Bay as part of its effort to aid in the reduction of the Child Mortality Rate in Jamaica. The Women's Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) is a national programme that addresses the problems of interrupted education and the accompanying social problems that occur when adolescent girls drop out of school due to pregnancy.
Invited by the Rotary Club of Montego Bay to address the young mothers, Paediatrician Dr. Tracy Gilbert gave a very informative talk to the girls about best care and safety practices for babies. At the end of Dr. Gilbert's address President Kay Reuben together with Rotarians Everton Anderson, Larklin Hall and Keri-Lyn Johnson of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay presented each young mother with a Digital Thermometer. The young mothers also received instructions on how best to put the thermometers to use.
They were also each presented with a Booklet prepared by the Paediatric Association of Jamaica, entitled "Saftey and Your Child".
Following the presentation, the Club members met with the Centre Manager, Mrs. Lurline Mitchell, toured the facilities and learned more about the Centre and its needs. At present these needs include cribs for the babies, a washing machine, copy machine and fans for the nursery.
The Programme for Adolescent Mothers started in January 1978 as a project of the Bureau of Women's Affairs with one Centre in Kingston.
Since then it has expanded to 7 main centres and 8 Outreach Stations islandwide. Since 1991 the WCJF operates as a Limited Liability Company under the auspices of a government Ministry. Girls 17 years and under who become pregnant whilst still attending school are referred to a main Centre or Outreach Station by various means, including teachers, counsellors, ante-natal clinics or just by word of mouth.
The Foundation's objectives include :-
1. Continuing the academic education of young mothers, 17 and under and returning them to the normal school system, wherever possible. This includes providing the necessary support services after their return to regular school;
2. To educate the young mother, the baby's father and parents of their responsibilities, thereby ensuring that the child care standards are maintained;
3. To provide skill training for young women and men who are unable to return to school;
4. To intervene so as to delay pregnancies amongst adolescents in Jamaica.
To date, the Foundation, which has received several Awards, has supported over 35,000 teen mothers including some who have gone on to attend tertiary institutions. The continuing second pregnancy rate is less than 2% and the Foundation's model has been adopted by other Caribbean Territories and States in Africa.
L-R: Rotarian Larklin Hall, Paediatrician Guest Speaker Dr. Tracy Gilbert, Mrs. Lurline Mitchell- Centre Manager, Rotarian Everton Anderson-CEO Cornwall Regional Hospital & President Kay Reuben 
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