KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The National Child Month Committee (NCMC) wrapped up its activities for Child Month 2017 with a Day of Prayer yesterday, at the Bethel Baptist Church on Half-Way Tree Road, in Kingston.

The month was observed under the theme ‘Take Action! Break the Chain of Abuse Against Children’. Children who attend schools in and around the Half-Way Tree area and their teachers participated in the four-hour event.Registrar at the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR), Greig Smith, pleaded with Jamaicans to protect the nation’s children.He said the OCR is committed to ensuring that children who are vulnerable to abuse are protected at all times.“We have a responsibility to our children to take action and break the chain of abuse against them,” Smith said.Meanwhile, Chairman of the NCMC, Dr Pauline Mullings, told JIS News that she was pleased with the support Jamaicans gave to activities for Child Month.“We are using this Day of Prayer to invoke divine intervention as the Committee continues the work to stop the abuse against our children,” she said.“I am calling on all Jamaicans who are passionate about our children, who are not only the future of this country but who are an integral part of society now, to let the children know that they are valuable and important to us,” Dr Mullings added.The Day of Prayer was also attended by representatives from children-related agencies, the church community and members of the public.Jacqueline Ferguson, a member of the Power of Faith Ministries Church in Kencot, Kingston, said she could not miss the opportunity of joining with others to pray for the children. “As a parent, I had to be here, because I know that prayer works,” she said.The children rendered musical items and gave testimonies of their experiences with God. Schools that attended the event included St. Andrew Preparatory, Excelsior Primary, Wilbert Stewart Infant, St Theresa Preparatory, Kingston High, Tarrant High and Ambrook Lane Basic.