OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT BACKS EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

By Segilola Babalola 

The Osun State Government has thrown its weight behind the Early Childhood Development Project, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at promoting early childhood development and improving early detection and intervention for children with developmental disabilities.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Health, the State Health Commissioner, Barrister Jola Akintola, made the commitment during an advocacy visit by the project team to the Ministry in Osogbo.

The project, initiated by the Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics Unit, Department of Paediatrics of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, in partnership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK), seeks to skill primary healthcare workers in early childhood development and train them to screen children for potential developmental delays and disabilities during routine immunization and child welfare visits, and to work with secondary health facilities to increase access to timely interventions and support.  

The project is part of The Global Health Workforce Programme (GWHP) which funds Health Partnerships between UK and African health institutions to develop the health workforce in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria, supporting them to build stronger, more resilient health systems for post-pandemic recovery and to make progress towards universal health coverage. 

Dr. Oluwatosin Olorunmoteni, a Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician at the OAUTHC, emphasized the importance of early intervention, particularly during the critical first two years of life.

The project will be implemented across 19 primary healthcare facilities in Ife Central Local Government, the State General Hospital, Oke-Ogbo, the Urban Comprehensive Health Centre, Eleyele Area, Ile Ife, as well as the Paediatric General Outpatient Clinic and the Early Childhood Development Clinic at the OAUTHC, Ile-Ife.

The State Government's support for the project aligns with its priorities on children's immunization and early detection of developmental disabilities.

Dr. Akeem Bello, Director of Public Health, expressed gratitude to the team for selecting Osun State as the pilot location for the project and prayed for its success.

The Early Childhood Development Project is expected to make a significant impact on the lives of children in Osun State, and the government's support is a testament to its commitment to improving the health and well-being of its citizens.

Funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, the Global Health Workforce Programme awards large grants for Health Partnership projects contributing towards Health System Strengthening. Bidirectional learning through the Health Partnership model is part of the DNA of the programme, with a core focus on strengthening the health workforce and building capacity in health systems. The GWHP Fund Manager is THET and in Nigeria the Grant is managed by Ducit Blue Solutions.