KINGSTON, April 1 (JIS): On April 2, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through its Early Stimulation Programme (ESP), will join the global community in observing World Autism Day.

To raise awareness, the ESP will host an Autism Symposium at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on Wednesday, April 2, focusing on promoting inclusion, raising public awareness, celebrating the abilities of persons with disabilities (PWDs), and emphasising the importance of early diagnosis and intervention at showcasing the unique talents of these remarkable children.

“This symposium is not just an event; it is a movement to change perceptions. We want everyone, especially future educators, to understand that these children can reach their highest potential with the right support and opportunities,” Director of the ESP in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), Antonica Gunter Gayle, told JIS News in an interview.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “Our children with disabilities are children first; therefore, they must be included in all spheres of society,” she emphasised.                                                                                                                                                                                                               Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., will be the guest speaker at the symposium.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This year’s theme, ‘Celebrating Neurodiversity: Promoting Inclusion’, centres around  the importance of inclusion, respect, and celebration of children with disabilities.   Mrs. Gunter Gayle articulated a vision in which children with special needs, including those with Autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities, are afforded the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers.

“The goal for a child with disabilities is the same as for any child – security, love and a normal environment where they can thrive,” Mrs. Gunter Gayle added.

Notable participants at the symposium include UNICE; the Ministry of Health and Wellness; the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information; local educational institutions, such as the University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica, The Mico University College, Shortwood and St. Joseph’s Teachers’ Colleges.

The afternoon segment will offer limited screening opportunities for children from the ESP wait list, along with individual counselling sessions for parents and caregivers seeking guidance and resources.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a developmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour, Given its unique spectrum, autism presents both challenges and strengths in each individual.

The ESP has been instrumental in changing lives, successfully transitioning special needs children into the primary education system each year, while serving more than 3,000 children across Jamaica.

Contact: Judith A. Hunter

Release: JIS

Photo Caption: Director of the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Antonica Gunter Gayle.

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

Baku, Azerbaijan, November 22, 2024 – The United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29) marked a significant milestone in the global effort to integrate health and Climate action, to protect health in the face of catastrophic occurrences.

At the heart of the progress was a high-level event, COP Presidencies bringing Health at the Centre of Climate Agenda, hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Spain, Azerbaijan and the COP29 Presidency.

Leaders underscored the need for continuity and synergy in Climate-health initiatives, with a critical emphasis on translating past pledges into action.

A highlight of the COP29 proceedings was the signing of the Letter of Intent officially establishing the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health.

COP29 is building on commitments made at previous UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs).

“This initiative unites the visionary leadership of five COP presidencies that span this critical time for action, underscoring a commitment to elevate health within the Climate agenda.” Said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“This coalition represents a collective will to prioritise Climate and health now and for the future,” he said.

The coalition, co-led by Azerbaijan, Brazil, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in partnership with the WHO, aims to provide a long-standing framework to drive impactful health outcomes from past Climate commitments. By bridging efforts across COP presidencies, the coalition reinforces sustained action and ensures ongoing momentum on critical health priorities as COP30 approaches.

Aligned with the goals of the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition, the event underscored progress achieved since the first Health Day at COP28, with key discussions focused on, operationaliaing Climate-Health Financing, the guiding principles for financing Climate and Health Solutions were further solidified as a framework to engage and amplify partnerships at the national level.

Efforts to enhance resource mobilisation and technical assistance were highlighted, ensuring greater resilience in health systems globally. Showcasing Climate-health synergy success stories, various nations shared success stories exemplifying integrated health and Climate strategies, inspiring broader adoption of effective approaches that can be scaled globally. These initiatives illustrated the measurable benefits of multilateral and bilateral partnerships in addressing the health impacts of Climate change.

With these outcomes, COP29 sets the stage for an era where health considerations are seamlessly integrated into climate policies, aiming for a healthier, more resilient future for all.

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

October 5, 2024 – The Caribbean Region faces existential threats, including biodiversity loss which continue to be a major challenge for global leaders and conservationists, with many plant and animal species in the Region are critically endangered, including the Grenada dove, the hawksbill turtle, the Antiguan racer, and the Saint Lucian racer—the rarest snake in the world.

These are just a few among the over 200 critically endangered species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and plants in the Caribbean Region. Conserving biodiversity is fundamental to sustaining life on Earth.

Biodiversity is crucial to produce essential medicines, food and water security, Climate Change adaptation and mitigation, cultural values, and economic development, making it indispensable to achieving a sustainable future.

This recognition is crystallised in the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological (UNCBD) which will be convening the 16th Conference of Parties on Biological Diversity (COP 16), 21 October–1 November in Cali, Colombia.

A regional workshop to prepare Caribbean negotiators to effectively participate in COP 16 will be held in Miami, Florida, from September 11–13.

The workshop is organised under the Caribbean Hub of the Project for Capacity Building for Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) Countries.

The three-day session was coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat in partnership with a number of organisations. They include, the  Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission’s European Union (EU)-funded Biodiversity Support Programme for ACP Coastal Environments – BioSPACE Project, and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund’s (CBF) Effective Marine Protected Area Activities for the Caribbean (EMPAC) Project.

At COP 16, Governments will review the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Parties to the Convention are expected to demonstrate the alignment of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with the Framework. COP16 will also address critical issues such as the monitoring of and resource mobilization for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

To this end, the regional workshop will apprise participants of the COP 16 agenda and the issues that will be discussed and negotiated, and enable them to identify and analyse issues most relevant to their national and/or regional interests. It will facilitate the development of national and/or regional positions on key COP 16 agenda items by allowing discourse among participants.

Participation in COP 16 is essential for the Caribbean Region to be able to advocate for stronger international commitments to biodiversity conservation, secure resources for protecting its ecosystems, and collaborate on global strategies to preserve its natural heritage. By being involved, the Region can ensure that its specific challenges and needs are considered in global biodiversity policies, enhancing its resilience and sustainability.