Osun Ministry of Health, OAUTH, RCPCH Launches Early Childhood Development Strategy Document
By Abisola Ariwodola,
Osun State government through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Early Childhood Development Project, funded by UK Department of Health and Social Care through the Global Health Partnership has launched ECD Strategy for children of age zero to five years.
The programme brought up by Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital OAUTH Ile-Ife, and supported by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health London, had the public presentation of the ECD Strategy document held at the Conference hall of the ministry of Health on Monday at the government secretariat.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Barrister Jola Akintola assured that the project will be formally adopted by the state and also presented to the National Council on Health.
He added that the ECD project is accepted by the government in tandem with the provision of quality healthcare Action Plan mantra of Governor Ademola Adeleke, adding that the state is glad of being used as pilot for the Early Childhood Development Strategy in Nigerian states.
The Commissioner used the medium to commend the main founder Early Childhood Development Project Team, and partners such as WHO, UNICEF, among others for promoting health services in Osun state.
In their goodwill messages the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare Mrs Abimbola Babatunde, WHO representative Dr Basiru Fatoki, UNICEF representative Pharmacist Israel Olasunkanmi, State Ministry of Education Mrs Adeluyi, opined that early childhood development promotes survival of the children.
The experts made case for early childhood development for the good of the children and to ensure thriving in life, and called on parents to care for the development of their children from birth to age five, stressing the need for nutritious meals, and health attention which aids development of children at this formative age is important.
The Team Lead of Early Childhood Development Project, Dr Oluwatosin Olorunmoteni, of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife stressed that early childhood development is cost effective, adding that it fosters early development of every child, and that every child irrespective of their circumstance at birth, should have their development screened.
Speaking on the overview of the ECD project, she emphasised on the structure: context for the development for the strategy documents, vision and mission guiding the principles and implementation pillars, programmes area and strategic actions, roles and responsibilities, as well as monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning.
Dr Olorunmoteni stressed the need for the federal government to introduce child survival action plans, saying that the plans will further make the children to have a thriving survival, as well as the need for the Public sector health system to introduce early childhood development plans.
She commended the Early Childhood Development Strategy Consultant, the Former Vice Chancellor of Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Prof Adesegun Fatusi for his tenacity over the ECD strategy documents.
The ECD project team lead used the fora to call on the government at all levels to support such plans in the interest of the children whom she described as the future of the country.
She added that “the development of the child can be screened when the child has been attending health facilities such as going to immunisation clinic, outpatient clinic and other routine checks.”
“So that those who are not developing well can get early interventions or care at tertiary level, teaching hospital and to an extent in some secondary facilities, according to global standards, which include children with developmental delays and disabilities like cerebral palsy, autism and others.”
Furthermore, she opined that the ECD strategy is multi sectoral cutting across, health, education, and social welfare, such that the children will be well attended to in hospitals by qualified and well trained team, and that when they go to school they won’t be rejected or be stigmatised.
“Osun State is taking a lead by presenting publicly the multi sectoral early childhood development strategy in any state of the country, saying that it is important to note that the world has moved from just emphasising survival, that children should not just survive, but thrive” she added.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Adekunle Isiaka hinted that a pivotal work had already been done on the Early Childhood Development in the state, using Ife Central Local Government Area as a case study.
He assured that the project will be extended to all parts of the state in no distant time, calling on all the development partners to support the state government.
Also, the Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Hospitals Management Board, Dr Bosun Awoyemi suggested that the project should be adopted by all the states of the federation, while the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Board SPHCDB Dr Oluwole Fabiyi reiterated the readiness of the Primary Healthcare to support and implement the Early Childhood Development initiative in all the PHCs in Osun State local governments.
Highlights of the event include the public presentation of the publication on Early Childhood Development Strategy, as well as the signing of the Statement of Commitment by the stakeholders in a bid to give the best of nurturing care, including proper nutrition, health services, responsive caregiving, and early learning opportunities, which is vital to establish strong foundations for lifelong health, learning, and well-being of children in Osun state.
Development Partners include WHO and UNICEF, alongside stakeholders such as Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Global Health Partnerships, Bureau of Persons with Disabilities, MEPBD, Muslim and Christian Communities among others.