Marlon Vickerman, Features Writer

With over 14 per cent of the nation's schoolchildren affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the overcrowding of classrooms at the primary level is making the problem difficult to tackle, argues Dr. Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson, consultant psychiatrist.

Speaking Thursday at the McCam Child Care and Develop-ment Centre-sponsored seminar on the challenges of raising children with ADHD, Dr. Bailey-Davidson said the disorder is prevalent in Jamaica.

"The school system as we have it here makes it impossible for teachers to focus the needed attention on ADHD students. The way that the system is structured is problematic because there are too many students in the classroom, which poses a challenge," she said. "Children with ADHD need a lot more attention, the type that they may only get from being in a smaller classroom. That's why some parents try to find special schools, even though this is costly."

Dr. Judith Leiba-Thomas, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health, said plans are in the pipeline to get ADHD-related medication on the country's subsidised health scheme, the National Health Fund.

"Children with ADHD are special children that need to be paid special attention. From the ministry's point of view, we are coming to the end of a public education campaign where we have been highlighting that children with ADHD are not rude, they have a disorder and need help and we are directing parents to where they can find help," she said.

marlon.vickerman@gleanerjm.com