Repeat pregnancy in HIV+ women worrying – UG students

Kaieteur News – May 2, 2008

A group of University of Guyana students has expressed concern over the trend of HIV-infected women having repeat pregnancies.

Under the guidance of Lecturer Monica Miller, six social workers, all of them students, conducted a seminar at the University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen Campus to address the issue.

The interactive session was held in the Cheddi Bharrat Jagan (CBJ) Lecture Hall and attracted an audience of mainly women of child-bearing age.

The students, Marlon Agrippa, Shaundell Shipley, Romel Richmond, Melissa Phillips, Charmine Walters and Natasha Dundas, made several recommendations to tackle the problem.

Shaundell Shipley, who works in the healthcare sector, pointed out that with support from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), women with HIV feel encouraged to lead normal lives. Shipley said she met with several mothers at a treatment site and discovered that they do not give thought to repeat pregnancies.  

TUC pillories gov’t on college funds

Stabroek News – May 2, 2008
By Johann Earle

With the labour movement still deeply divided, speakers at this year’s GTUC May Day rally pilloried the government over the cost of living and the cutting of the state subvention to the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) among other areas and PM Sam Hinds was given a rough reception.

Following yesterday’s morning’s traditional march, Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) affiliates rallied at the CLC on Woolford Avenue while affiliates of the rival FITUG gathered at the National Park. The GTUC rally was marred by the rude treatment of Prime Minister Hinds shortly after he arrived at CLC. Hinds had been invited to the event by the leadership of the GTUC.

Speaking at the rally held in the CLC compound, Coretta McDonald of the GTUC said the members were angry at the state of the country and on the approach to these problems by the leadership of the Guyana Trades Union Congress.

She noted that the labour movement preceded the political movement of the country and that it was labour that first challenged the merchant class and the colonial masters.  

GBTI awards three early savers

Kaieteur News – April 18, 2008

Three teenaged girls were yesterday selected as the winners of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) early savers competition.

Zoya Peters, 13; Allesha Ally, 14; and Mandy Jaggernauth, 12; were rewarded at a simple presentation ceremony held at the bank’s Water Street office.

In his opening remarks, Head of Research and Planning, Sean Noel, said Guyanese must avoid the inculcation of a living-for-now syndrome in young people.

Noel said that parents must take saving more seriously and impart the value of financial responsibility.  

New horizons for teenage girls with children

Guyana Chronicle – April 17, 2008
Editorial

Teenage girls who became pregnant while at school, now have the chance in a life time to regain their self-esteem and face mainstream society with a new sense of hope and security that will dictate the path of their future. It has now become possible for these “unfortunate mothers” to re-gain their self-esteem and make their triumphal entry into mainstream society, through a programme launched to re-integrate teenage mothers into schools.

We welcome this initiative by the Ministry of Education and hope that these ‘unfortunate mothers’ who were forced out of the schools’ system would grasp at the opportunity that would enable them to face society in a dignified and independent manner later in life.

We subscribe to the view that several factors might have forced these young women to follow the path of destruction, but it is not too late for them to take corrective measures, and the Ministry of Education has cast the dice and it is for them now to take up the challenge. We do not believe that society should turn its back on these people, for the mistake they have made early in life. Instead we should do all we can to help them re-integrate in society in order for them to carry on with their lives in a moral and civilised manner.  

Programme launched to reintegrate teenage mothers into schools

Guyana Chronicle – April 16, 2008
By Tajeram Mohabir

CHIEF Schools’ Welfare Officer, Mrs. Yvonne Arthur yesterday urged parents to bond with their teenage daughters who became mothers in school to restore their self-esteem and avoid further degeneration in society.

She made the appeal at the official launch of a Ministry of Education programme to integration teenage mothers in schools convened at the National Centre for Educational Research Development (NCERD), Kingston.

The programme which started last year was held under the theme “Assisting to Achieve Quality Education through Re-integration” started last year.

The initiative is in keeping with the millennium development goals and targets youths primarily in Regions 4, ( Demerara/Mahaica); 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) and 7 ( Cuyuni/Mazaruni). Those regions were represented by their schools welfare officers.  

Women’s Affairs Committee awards outstanding dozen

Kaieteur News – March 13, 2008

Twelve women, including a prominent West Watooka farmer, were on Sunday evening the proud recipients, of the first ever “Women’s Affairs Committee Awards”, which were presented at a simple ceremony in their honour at the Watooka Club, in Linden.

Recipients of the awards were Gloria Britton in the field of education; Vilma Tyson, agriculture; Pastor Victorine Jervis, religious sector; Magdaline Semple, Youth development; Claudette Martin-Smartt, Health Sector; Judy Gravesande-Noel, Sport; Alice Samuels-Social Work; Hyacinth Sandiford, AIDS Education;Vivienne Munroe, hospitality sector; Leslyn Charles, legal sector; Yvonne Drakes, entertainment; and Mayfield Greene, the business sector.

Chairman of the Women’s Affairs Committee, Valerie Adams-Sharpe, said that the auspicious event, which sought to recognise and honour women for the invaluable contribution they make to society, was the result of a three-year vision, the realisation of which was hitherto hindered due to lack of necessary financing.