Stakeholders celebrating the day of the African Child
By Melisa Mongina
The Early Childhood Network for Kenya (ECDNeK) in partnership with the African Early Childhood Network has intensified Child Care advocacy initiatives by creating a nationwide awareness campaign on the importance of quality and affordable Child Care.
Speaking during the launch of the Child Care campaign dialogue, Philip Nzege, Directorate of Children Services, noted the importance of having a safe and secure environment for children adding that children should have trained personnel to ensure that they are well cared for.
” We will have to look at how children are taken care of in the environment. It must be safe and secure as it is stated very clearly in the Children’s Act 2022. We will also come up with a program to ensure that for one to be involved in childcare he/she must attain some training for proper care of the child,” noted Philip.
Further, Philip notes that child care is a collective responsibility that needs collaboration between stakeholders, the county, and the national government.
” One of the special directories involved closely with families is social development and parenting program. It is high time we need to bring this component of Child Care into the special directorate so that when we are talking about families and the challenges they face, that social development and parenting program can pick that issue and come up with the solutions,” added Philip.
He also emphasized the need for crafting units or courses that will teach students after completing university how to do parenting.
” The university provides solutions and fills the gap of communities. I think it is high time our higher education institutions craft a unit or a course so that when our sons and daughters complete university education, they can be taught how to do parenting,” urged Philip.
According to Dr. Teresa Mwoma, The National Coordinator at ECD Network Kenya, there is a need to empower caregivers for better quality Child Care services especially for children between the age of 0-10 years as it is the time when rapid development in children takes place.
“The first 1000 days is the first 3 years by extension to the 5th year which is very critical because there’s rapid brain development, providing the child with an environment that is stimulating all the senses with what the child is seeing, what the child can touch, taste, and hear. Exposing children to stimulating environments helps in developing their brains,” said Dr. Teresa.
The nationwide campaign’s implementation strategy will include coordination, advocacy at the national and county government levels, and learning and knowledge management. The campaign’s impact will be enhanced by leveraging national calendar days, such as the Day of the African Child.
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