Parents tipped on Early Childhood Development

Dr Rebecca Nantanda, Prof. Waiswa, Dr Jessica Nsigwa and Dr Daniel Strachan during the Early Childhood Nutrition and Development Project dissemination at Metropole Hotel. Photo by Violet Nabatanzi

Health experts have urged parents to promote Early Childhood Development (ECD) to help children realize their full potential.

The President of Paediatrics Association, Dr Rebecca Nantanda, has said the first two years of a child are very critical because that is the time when the body and brain experience rapid growth and development.

As a result, Nantanda said there is need to provide children at that stage with the required nutrition.

She added that ECD is one of the most cost-effective investments in human capital. Statistics show that approximately 2.5 million Ugandan children under the age of five, risk not attaining their full potential.

According to the Uganda Demographic and Health survey 2018, poor nutrition accounted for 40% of all child deaths.

Nantanda said psychosocial stimulation of young children in Uganda remains inadequate.

Studies indicate that the effects of poor development in early childhood growth, have life-long consequences.

Speaking during the early childhood nutrition and development project dissemination at Metropole Hotel in Kampala, Prof. Peter Waiswa from Makerere University School of Public health, said  if parents do not improve the nutrition status of their children, they (children) will never be healthy, bright, and will never be "what you want them to be".

"If the development of a child is bad and there is no stimulation; the outcome will never be the best," he added.

He urged parents to always start nurturing their children early, stressing that ECD is the best way through which to raise a productive population.

Dr Daniel Strachan, the coordinator British Academy said parents should take time to interact with their children and play with them to stimulate their growth.

A study done in Luuka district on promotion of early childhood nutrition and development, highlighted that 95.2% of mothers played with their children and only 80% of mothers exclusively breastfed their babies in the first six months of life.

The study shows that 79.4% of fathers were more engaged in storytelling, 71.4% teaching them how to read, count or drawing objects and reading children books.

Dr Jessica Nsigwa, the commissioner child health at the health ministry said the Government is promoting ECD home based modes. She said they have been developed a model in Kasese district were mothers volunteers to look after other children, training and supporting them as other mothers go to mountains to dig.

"We do not have to wait for nursery schools to promote ECD as they cannot be everywhere,'' she said.