Cummins: No child should fall through the cracks

Minister of Health and Wellness Senator Lisa Cummins is urging greater collaboration among Barbados’ social support systems to ensure vulnerable children and adolescents receive the help they need.

Addressing the opening of the two-day United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Capacity Building Workshop on Adolescent-Friendly Health Services at UN House, Marine Gardens, Hastings, Christ Church on Wednesday, Cummins warned that children and adolescents could fall through the cracks when schools, healthcare providers and social services fail to communicate effectively.

She illustrated the point by describing a young person whose declining academic performance, irregular school attendance or behavioural changes might be viewed by educators as a school-based issue.