KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government has allocated $22 million for the ‘Technical Support to Reduce Teenage Pregnancy’ project.
This is contained in the 2019/2020 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.
Objectives of the programme are to reduce the adolescent pregnancy rates in Jamaica, by impacting sexual reproductive health behaviour change among boys and girls, and through increased awareness and access to sexual and reproductive health services.
The Government of Jamaica and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded project is being implemented by the National Family Planning Board.
During the course of the financial year, training of healthcare providers will be undertaken in the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services, including birth control methods.
In addition, condoms and pregnancy tests will be provided to adolescents in parishes with the highest fertility rates, and development and the launch of a media campaign, utilising traditional and social media platforms, to help in the reduction of teenage pregnancy.
(Jamaica observer)