With a view to addressing early signs of disabilities in children, the Osun State government, through the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with some relevant institutions, has launched an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Strategy for children aged zero to five years.
The state Health Ministry collaborated with the Early Childhood Development Project, a partnership funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, involving Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) and the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, as part of the Global Health Workforce Programme.
According to a statement by the Osun Ministry of Health & Early Childhood Development Project, on Wednesday, the programme aimed to improve early identification and intervention for children with developmental delays and disabilities. The state co-developed the strategy with cross-sector stakeholders, which was publicly presented during an event held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Health on Monday, at the government secretariat.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Jola Akintola, assured that the state will formally adopt the project and also present it to the National Council on Health.
He added that the ECD project has been accepted by the government, in line with the provision of the Quality Healthcare Action Plan mantra of Governor Ademola Adeleke, and that Osun State is pleased to be used as the pilot state for the Early Childhood Development Strategy.
The commissioner commended the main founder, the Early Childhood Development Project team, and partners, including WHO and UNICEF, among others, for promoting health services in Osun State.
In their goodwill messages, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, Mrs Abimbola Babatunde, the WHO representative, Dr Basiru Fatoki, the UNICEF representative, pharmacist Israel Olasunkanmi, and the State Ministry of Education representative, Mrs. Adeluyi, expressed the view that investment in early childhood development promotes children’s survival.
The experts highlighted the importance of early childhood development for the good of children to ensure they thrive in life, and urged parents to care for their children’s development from birth to age five, emphasising the need for nutritious meals and healthcare, which support development during this crucial period.
The Team Lead of Early Childhood Development Project, Dr Oluwatosin Olorunmoteni (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, stressed that early childhood development interventions are cost-effective, adding that they foster the early development of every child, and that every child, irrespective of their circumstance at birth, should have their development screened and promoted.
Speaking on the overview of the ECD strategy, she emphasised its structure, including the context for its development, its vision and mission, guiding principles, implementation pillars, key programme areas, strategic actions, roles and responsibilities, as well as the plan for strategy monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning.
Dr Olorunmoteni emphasised that the ECD plans extend beyond child survival in the state, as they aim to support children in reaching their full potential, while also highlighting the need for the public health system to implement the early childhood development strategy.
She commended the Early Childhood Development Strategy’s consultant, the Former Vice Chancellor of Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Prof Adesegun Fatusi, for his tenacity in facilitating the development of the strategy.
The ECD project team lead called on the government at all levels to support such plans in the interest of the children, whom she described as the country’s future.
She believed that the ECD strategy is multisectoral, spanning health, education, and social welfare, ensuring children receive proper care from qualified and well-trained staff in hospitals, and that they will not be rejected or stigmatised when they go to school.
“Osun State is taking a lead by presenting publicly the [first] multisectoral early childhood development strategy in any state of the country. 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 of the Ministry of Health, Dr Adekunle Isiaka, noted that pivotal work had already been done on early childhood development in the state through this pilot in Ife Central Local Government Area.
He assured that the project will be extended to all parts of the state in the near future, calling on all development partners to support the state government in this task.
Additionally, Dr Bosun Awoyemi, Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on the Hospitals Management Board, suggested that all states in the federation should adopt the project. At the same time, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Board, SPHCDB, Dr Oluwole Fabiyi, reiterated the readiness of the Primary Healthcare Board to support and implement the Early Childhood Development strategy in all the PHCs within Osun State local governments.
Highlights of the event included the public unveiling of the Early Childhood Development Strategy, as well as the signing of the Statement of Commitment by stakeholders in an effort to provide the best nurturing care, including proper nutrition, health services, responsive caregiving, and early learning opportunities. These are essential for establishing strong foundations for lifelong health, learning, and well-being of children in Osun State.
Development Partners for this strategy include WHO and UNICEF, along with stakeholders such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Global Health Partnerships, Bureau of Persons with Disabilities, MEPBD, Muslim and Christian Communities, among others.
