Early Childhood Education
Activities undertaken in Early Childhood Development (ECD) have evolved out of advocacy in child protection issues; an integrated approach to ECD; inter-sectoral planning and identification of cross cutting issues and attention to the priorities of the Medium Term Strategic Plan. They set out to contribute to improved access to quality health and early stimulation services for children; and the reduction of the threat of HIV/AIDS among young children. This is achieved through capacity building for parents and practitioners in good ECD practices; establishment of child care and health facilities to meet minimum standards consistent with the rest of the Caribbean; strategies for national coordination and capacity building in PMTCT and the integration of PMTCT into regular Maternal and Child Health (MCH), programming; establishing and/or strengthening of referral systems for HIV+ mothers, high risk pregnancies; facilitating adequate care and support and treatment for all mothers and children who are HIV+ and need treatment receive adequate care and support and strengthening the knowledge base and skills of pregnant women and health workers in safe motherhood and young child nutrition. Since baselines are minimal and monitoring processes need strengthening, the programme emphasizes among other monitoring tools, baselines in ECD with a major research on the status and quality of Child Care Facilities; Studies on Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Beliefs(KAPB) in safe motherhood and Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) practices and health status of HIV+ mothers and their children.
|
