From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Medical experts drawn from different health institutions across the country have made case for early childhood development for the good of the children and to ensure their survival in life.
The experts who spoke at the public presentation of the Osun State Early Childhood Development (ECD) Strategy held at the conference room of the state Ministry of Health, Osogbo maintained that early childhood development guarantee survival and safety of the children.
Therefore, the medical experts called on the parents to care for the development of their children from birth to age five, stressing the need for proper and nutritious meals for children from birth to age five.
Specifically, Dr Oluwatosin Olorunmoteni, a consultant at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife said early childhood development is cost effective and cuts across all areas of human endeavours and policies.
Also, she stressed the need for the federal government to introduce child survival action plans, saying that the plans will further boost the survival rate of the children.
She stressed the need for the Public sector health system to introduce early childhood development plans, just as she called 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.
“The children should have their development monitored by the parents and this should be for every child. The brain of the children can be worked upon when they are young and not when they are already old. Every child should also have developmental screening while every school is also encouraged to monitor the growth of the children,” she added.
Speaking, 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.
In his remarks, the state commissioner for Health, Mr Jola Akintola assured that the project will be formally adopted by the state and also presented to the National Council on Health.
Highlights of the event include presentations by the representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, public presentation of the publication on Early Childhood Development in Osun State and signing of a commitment pact to give the best start to children from birth to age five in the state.
