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.
However, she said, the same child could present to a healthcare professional with anxiety or depression, while a social worker might identify financial or other pressures within the family.
Minister of Health and Wellness Senator Lisa Cummins (File Photo)
“Universal access to services is one thing… but the next stage of our development must be about focusing on ensuring interconnectivity in the interest of the people who benefit from the universal services,” the minister said.
Cummins also called for a broader understanding of women’s and children’s health, stressing that health policy must account for the social, emotional and developmental factors that influence well-being throughout life.
“When we speak about women’s health, for example, we cannot confine that conversation to pregnancy and childbirth. That’s not just what it’s about,” she said, adding that maternal health remained important but must be considered alongside adolescent health, reproductive health, mental health, and the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases.
Turning to children, Cummins said their health needs extended beyond the treatment of childhood illnesses to include nutrition, emotional development, educational environments, and family circumstances.
She noted that the prevalence of single-mother households across Barbados made it particularly important for policymakers to understand the circumstances affecting children and their families.
Under her stewardship, she said, the Ministry of Health and Wellness would place greater emphasis on gender-specific concerns and the different challenges faced by girls and boys.
Cummins said providing girls with appropriate guidance and support during adolescence could help shape their confidence, decision-making, future health and opportunities.
She said, however, that boys also needed encouragement to understand their health, communicate their concerns and develop healthy behaviours.
“We’re particularly conscious about how, culturally, men and boys are not encouraged to talk about how they feel. It’s not manly, it’s not cultural, but this is so important as part of our conversation going forward,” she said.
“Investments in adolescent health are investments in the future health of our adult population,” she added.
(SB)
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