From Jamaica Observer

Mandeville, Manchester — Regional technical director for the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), Dr Michael Coombs says fatherlessness is causing grave dysfunctions in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries.

Coombs claims the absence of a father has implications for the majority of social and public health challenges, including crime and violence, mental illness, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, child and adult sexual abuse, gender-based violence, teen suicide, youth incarceration, poor performance in schools, unattached youth, gang membership, and a cycle of failed traditional marriages with tragic consequences.

According to a news release, Dr Coombs was addressing the topic, ‘Fatherlessness in Jamaica and the Caribbean’, at the Third Caribbean Regional Conference of the World Congress of Families, held recently in Barbados.

The conference carried the theme, ‘The Natural Family: Key to a Healthy, Stable, and Prosperous Caribbean Community’.

“This constitutes nothing less than a social and public health emergency in need of urgent interventions through partnerships at all levels. Fatherlessness is perpetuated by several important factors, which include cultural, social, ideological factors and especially the absence of holistic male development and socialisation interventions,” Dr Coombs said.
Dr Coombs, who is also the chair and founder of the National Association for the Family (NAF), told the conference about a holistic male development initiative being developed in Jamaica to address problems affecting young males.

The initiative, titled ‘Man-Up, a Call to Healthy, Responsible Manhood’, is being implemented through a partnership between the SRHA, the NAF, the Ministry of Education and the church. The initiative was launched at a male retreat in February, with the intention of being rolled out in schools, colleges, youth groups and churches.

IMAGE: DR COOMBS …the absence of a father has implications for the majority of social and public health challenges

For more on this story go to: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Fatherlessness-a-huge-problem–says-health-official_58013