Childs Healthy Life Starts From First 1000 Days: UNICEF, Osun Govt Tells Pregnant Women And Nursing Mothers
By Abisola Ariwodola,
A child’s healthy life has been described to start from the first 1000 days of existence, as it is said to be a period that shapes the child’s lifelong health, growth, and development.
This was the summation of UNICEF and Osun government experts at the two-day SBC capacity-building meeting for the SBC Committee on cross-sectional interventions for child survival and development in Osun State.
According to UNICEF Social Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist, Mrs. Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, while delivering the workshop lecture organised by the Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment in collaboration with UNICEF Lagos Field Office, held in Osogbo, when caregivers adopt recommended behaviours during this period of the first 1000 days, children stand a better chance of attaining a healthy and prosperous future.
Represented by Mrs. Fatima Shittu Kuranga, the SBC Specialist explained that a child’s journey to a healthy life begins from conception, continues through delivery, and extends to the care the child receives afterward. She stressed that every child can develop into a productive and healthy adult when given the right support early in life.
Mrs. Akinola-Akinwole urged mothers and stakeholders to pay close attention to the first 1,000 days, describing it as a critical window of opportunity for promoting child survival and overall well-being. She broke the 1,000-day period into three stages: pregnancy (270 days), the child’s first year (365 days), and the second year (another 365 days).
She also advised pregnant women to attend antenatal care regularly, ensure the support of skilled birth attendants during labour and complete all routine immunisations. For nursing mothers, she recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, proper handwashing practices, providing nutritious meals, and ensuring timely birth registration of their children.
Speaking on achieving social behaviour change, she stated that it required involvement of concerned individuals, as she listed community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and political actors as essential partners who must be engaged during advocacy planning to guarantee successful SBC outcomes.
In his remarks, Akande Adewale, State Health Promotion Officer pointed out the importance of adhering to health guides by experts, as he also emphasised the importance of immunisation in the first 1000 days.
Describing the first 1000 days of a child as the period between conception and the second birthday of a child, he encouraged pregnant women and nursing mothers to take cognisance of their health, nutrition, and WASH.
Also in his remarks, the State Programme Director, Mr Raphael Ojo lauded Osun state government under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke for his health programmes and policies in favour of children.
He said very child stands the chance to survive and develop into an healthy and productive adult if given a great start in life, from conception in the womb, to delivery and being cared for in a clean and protected manner for the child to survive, develop and thrive.
He urged stakeholders and beneficiaries in the state to avail themselves of the governments health provision in collaboration with service providers and sponsors such as UNICEF.
Another facilitator, Mrs. Adekemi Ajayi, talking on “Driving Positive Change Through Active Community-Led Action: Stories from the Field,” reiterated that positive change is a collective responsibility and that communities become powerful drivers of sustainable development when they unite to solve shared challenges.
Mrs. Ajayi called on community stakeholders to move beyond project adoption and work towards full implementation of SBC initiatives to ensure wide-scale impact across the state.