http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091122/news/nev
Spread the word.

Cannot spread the word. The link is not operative. What did the story say?

There is also a facebook page you can join.

http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Kingston-Jamaica/ANANDA-ALERT-SAVE-OUR-CHILDREN/ 325244235719?ref=nf

Missing and ignored - Despite desperate calls, few subscribe to Ananda Alert

Published: Sunday | November 22, 2009

Tyrone Reid, Sunday Gleaner Reporter


A little girl runs past a Jamaica Defence Force soldier during a joint police-military operation. Children in inner-city communities number highest among those who go missing. - File

WHILE MORE children continue to go missing, most of the approxi-mately two million cellular phone users are still giving a 'dial tone' to an urgent call to play a critical role in the success of the Ananda Alert - a nationwide missing children's alert network named after 11-year-old Ananda Dean, who was kidnapped and murdered in 2008.

It seems many Jamaicans do not care much about honouring the memory of a little girl, whose death pierced the heart of a nation. On Monday, November 16, The Gleaner reported that six months after the launch of the Digicel-sponsored Ananda Alert number - 444-2432 - only 2,255 of the the mobile phone provider's approxi-mately two million subscribers, in a country of some 2.7-million people, have answered the call to sign up and help locate the nation's children when they are reported missing.

Another number, sponsored by another mobile provider - LIME - is expected to come on stream shortly.

Since then, two other teens have been reported missing through the Ananda Alert. But many Jamaicans are dropping the call for their help.

Wayne Robertson, senior director of strategic policy, planning and reform at the Department of Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister - the unit that manages the Ananda Alert - told our news team that in less than 24-hours after a Gleaner headline screamed 'Y'all don't care', the number of subscribers more than doubled.

Unfortunately, the flurry fizzled. As at Friday, November 20, 2009, the number of Ananda Alert subscribers stood at 5,136. "It's definitely not where we want it to be," Robertson said. "It is a cultural issue," said Robertson of the lacklustre, heartbreaking response to date.

spread the word

He believes the the number of subscribers will climb if current subscribers start spreading the word to family and friends. Robertson said encouraging others to join the 'civilian army' being recruited to help protect our nation's children is the best way to improve the level of subscription.

In the November 16w article, Robertson told The Gleaner that his team would embark on a public-education drive geared towards increasing awareness about abductions. The message the government department wants to send is clear: It could be your child or a child affiliated with your family.

Recent reports showed that there was a significant increase in the number of missing children. Up to September this year, 1,206 children were reported missing. Of that figure, 676 have returned home, while three have died. The heartbreaking numbers for the nine-month period far outstrip the 960 children reported missing during 2008. Despite an increase in the number of children reported missing, Robertson also said the advent of the Ananda Alert resulted in an increase in the rate of recovery. And, he is persuaded that if more Jamaicans subscribed to receive the text-message alerts, there would be a further increase in the recovery rate.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com

How do I subscribe?

Customers subscribe by texting in the keyword 'HELP' to 444-2432. Thereafter, they will start receiving alerts on missing children and tips on how we can protect our children.

After subscribing, customers will automatically receive ALL alerts sent from the service.

What if I want to unsubscribe from the service?

Simply text 'OUT' to 444-2432 or call customer care at 100 to request to be removed from the service.

The LIME number to come on stream shortly is 444 4230

Thank you jeannieb. That was the report.