Children on PATH to get meals as school remain on COVID-19 lockdown

Nutrition Products Limited will be preparing for children on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) who will be out of school for the next two weeks.

The ministry of education said that the snacks will comprise baked products, fruit juices, milk and water, and will be distributed to students on PATH at the primary and secondary levels. The ministry said that school principals will be asked to suggest distribution points for the snack packages.

At the same time, the ministry said that it is looking at collaborating with selected food suppliers, supermarkets and other major areas to distribute food packages at specific drop off points in each community. It said that the list of PATH beneficiaries would be shared with the suppliers.

Parents and guardians of children on PATH are urged to pay attention to the traditional and social media for information on the distribution points that beneficiaries can visit to obtain food supplies to ensure students are fed during the period of school closure.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness last Thursday announced the closure of schools for 14 days, effective Friday, March 13, in an effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on the island. Some 15 cases of the respiratory illness have detected in Jamaica thus far.