Less than half of four- and five-year-olds in early learning programmes (ELPs) are developmentally on track, highlighting the urgent need to address challenges faced by babies and young children. The first few years of life are crucial for physical and brain development, and damage during this time is often irreversible.
Five key interventions have been identified: maternal and child healthcare, nutrition and food security, opportunities for early learning, support for families in need, and identifying children who require extra care. The main challenges include supporting children with developmental delays, tackling hunger, regulating unhealthy food marketing, and establishing a National Food and Nutrition Security Council.
To improve ELPs, it is essential to increase the value of early childhood development subsidies and simplify the registration process. Providing support to poor families, enhancing frontline workers’ capacity to respond to dangers, and prioritizing early childhood development are crucial steps towards breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty, violence, and ill-health.
TimesLIVE