Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Friday: World Champs; Poverty rate; HIV data collection; Today's Weather; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Friday, August 18, 2023 Fraser-Pryce, Dacres to lead Team Jamaica at Budapest 2023 Sprinting icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and discus thrower Fedrick Dacres [have been named as co-captains of Jamaica's team]( to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Fraser-Pryce, 36, the five-time world 100m champion is likely competing in her last World Athletics Championships and will be looking to extend her gold medal record in the event when she gets her campaign going on Sunday at 5:10 am. Dacres, who won the silver medal in the discus at the 2019 instalment of the championships, is competing in his fourth World Athletics Championships after also making the final in 2015 and 2017, finishing seventh and fourth respectively. Jamaica's poverty rate up 5.7% The [poverty rate]( in Jamaica at the end of 2021 was estimated at 16.7 per cent, reflecting an increase of 5.7 percentage points relative to 2019. The update was presented on Thursday by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) during its quarterly media briefing. The PIOJ noted that the rates for 2021 were compared with 2019 as no local estimate of poverty was available for 2020. This is so because the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions was not fielded in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic conditions. $50m initiative to fit needy Jamaicans with prosthesis The ministries of health and wellness and labour and social security have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the ‘New Limb, New Life’ Initiative. The $50-million initiative aims to provide patients losing limbs due to a health condition or trauma with prosthesis. The signatories were Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton and Labour and Social Security Minister, Pearnel Charles Jr. They signed the MOU during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. Advertisement Justice ministry opens child-friendly space at Manchester Victim Services Branch The Ministry of Justice will today will host the opening of the Child-Friendly Space at its Victim Services Branch (VSB) office in Manchester under the US- Jamaica Child Protection Compact Partnership. Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck and United States Embassy Kingston Charge d'Affaires, Amy Tachco will deliver remarks. The United States and Jamaica signed an agreement in 2018 -The US- Jamaica Child Protection Compact, Partnership - which is a four-year plan to build on and strengthen Jamaica’s existing efforts in the identification, provision of comprehensive trauma-informed care, prosecution and conviction as well as prevention of child trafficking in all its forms. Church Group backs Tufton’s decision on HIV data collection The Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches (JUGC) has applauded the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton for his “quick action to address what appears to be a breach of ministry policy in relation to HIV data collection”. “The strange inclusion of information on transgender status, as well as an open-ended invitation to name another gender status, as distinct from biological sex, is worrying,” the JUGC said in a statement. The health and wellness ministry recently advised that following concerns raised about the HIV/AIDS Confidential Reporting Form, [adjustments were made](. This was to ensure that the form complies with existing constitutional and legal structures of the Government of Jamaica. TODAY'S WEATHER FORECAST Hazy conditions are expected to continue to dominate today, according to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica. In the morning, it is expected to be partly cloudy and hazy. In the afternoon, isolated showers and thunderstorms are anticipated mainly across northern and southwestern parishes. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING 'Mad Out' deejay Valiant discusses mental health awareness with Bellevue Hospital Fast-rising dancehall star Valiant says when he recorded his hit single, Mad Out, he knew it would spark much-needed conversation about mental health in Jamaica. In fact, the artiste said he was just waiting to see who would reach out and extend an invitation to engage him in a discussion while looping in his fan base. Turns out, the island’s leading psychiatric hospital, Bellevue, was more than excited to [partner with the entertainer to raise awareness around the issue](. Jaydon Hibbert eyes sprinting Triple jump world leader Jaydon Hibbert thinks [he could add the sprints to his repertoire]( in the next two to three years, or as soon as he stops growing. Large ice chunk fell from the sky and damaged a house in Massachusetts A large ice chunk [fell from the sky and hit a house]( in Massachusetts, damaging the roof of the home, the homeowner said. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Larry Bird retires Considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Larry Bird – who led the Boston Celtics to three NBA championships (1981, 1984, and 1986) —announced his retirement on this day in 1992. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.