Who are the Silver Volunteers, and what is their mission?
In 2022, 80 UNICEF Silver Volunteers trained over 900 parents in early childhood development, with a particular emphasis on immunizations.
The ‘Silver Volunteers’ are healthcare professionals, such as paediatricians, general practitioners, family physicians, and nurses, who are either over 50 years of age or retired. They received additional training in various areas, including vaccination, nutrition, early childhood development (ECD), breastfeeding, positive parenting, and COVID-19 pandemic impact on vaccination demand through the UNICEF Silver Volunteers’ programme. Through the training programme they were able to strengthen their inter-personal communication skills and ability to address potential provocative questions from parents and caregivers.
In fall of 2022, UNICEF – in collaboration with the Kazakh Ministry of Health and the National Volunteer Network and with the financial support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)– held training sessions for Silver Volunteers in Kazakhstan. These training sessions were designed to equip volunteers with the knowledge and skills on how to communicate and lecture parents and caregivers on early childhood development (ECD) and timely immunization. The extended thematic approach was applied due to the sensitivity of vaccination topic because of the continuous COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and caregivers were able to listen and discuss with Silver Volunteers vaccination, ECD, nutrition, breastfeeding and positive parenting. That approach allowed to reach and engage them into the dialogue.
Family engagement during the earliest years of a child’s life is one of the most powerful predictors of a child’s development. Families are children’s first teachers, and it is the quality of parent-child relationships and interactions that create the foundational skills that children need to be successful in school and in life. It is no surprise, then, that family engagement is an essential component of high-quality early childhood care, development and education.
Dr. Aliya Kartabayeva participated in these training sessions to become a UNICEF Silver Volunteer in Kazakhstan. She sat down with UNICEF to share her training experience, speak about the volunteer project’s importance, and explain how she applies her newly acquired knowledge and skills in her work.
About the project and its content
Dr. Aliya Kartabayeva is a general practitioner and paediatrician at a hospital located in the Kazaly District of the Kyzylorda region. Growing up in a large family, Aliya developed a strong love for children. She also acknowledges that, as a child, she frequently fell ill due to a weakened immune system. These two factors significantly influenced her decision to pursue a career in medicine.
As an experienced medical specialist, Dr. Kartabayeva endeavours to stay up to date on the latest medical advancements for children and enhance her professional knowledge. She frequently participates in a variety of continuing education and medical training programmes.
Dr. Kartabayeva praised the Silver Volunteer’s training for its comfortable presentation environment, exceptional organization, and competent and attentive trainers. She also spoke positively about the live training process.
“All main topics and questions related to early childhood development (ECD), positive parenting, and routine and COVID-19 vaccination were covered during the training. I appreciated that the training consisted not only of a theoretical part but also of practical exercises and games for each topic,” says Aliya.
She continued: “Approximately 80 doctors from eight regions of Kazakhstan participated in the training. It was a great opportunity to network and get to know each other. We exchanged ideas with qualified doctors from all over Kazakhstan about the significance of healthy development during early childhood (especially from birth to three years old), since this is the crucial period when the foundation for academic performance and economic productivity is laid.”
On the importance of immunization.
Aliya adheres to the principle that “a healthy woman gives birth to a healthy child.” As an experienced paediatrician, Aliya feels that it is her duty to emphasize to every parent the significance of immunization.
“I always tell parents that vaccines help to build immunity against infectious diseases. I focus on the fact that, even if a child contracts an illness, the majority of these diseases are easily treatable. I also share my own family’s example, and the excellent health of my family members after receiving routine immunizations,” she states.
In her interactions with parents who refuse or hesitant to vaccinate their children due to the fake news and misinformation on immunization in social media, Aliya provides them with scientific information and encourages them to reflect on their position. She then follows up with them for further dialogue. Aliya believes that every parent has a unique level of understanding and that it is important to take an individualized approach in each case.
As part of her daily work, Aliya provides consultations to parents on the topic of immunization. Since completing the training for doctors, which took place between October and December of 2022, she has consulted with over 80 parents.
“I provide parents with brochures on immunization (routine and COVID-19), which were developed by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Health, so they can learn more about the topic on their own,” says Aliya.
On the importance of monitoring a child’s early development
Alyia also stated that “during the early years of development, which occurs prior to the age of three, a child is in the process of forming their sense of self and learning to be aware of their desires and actions. It is during this critical period that children develop a natural inclination to express their will and try to demand the fulfilment of their desires, often in opposition to the wishes of adults.”
“Around the age of three, the ‘I’ and ‘me’ consciousness is formed in the child,” says Dr. Kartabayeva.
According to Aliya, parents should approach their children’s development and vocabulary with love and tenderness from the moment they are born until the age of three.
In Kazakhstan, the monitoring of early childhood development (ECD) is one of the primary objectives of the UNICEF 2021–2025 Country Programme. Per a 2011 UNICEF report, investments made in ECD have a long-term impact on children’s futures. ECD services not only provide a stimulating environment for the all-round development of children in the present but also aid in preparing parents for the future.
“As an attending physician with some experience, I had my own set of rules and opinions for different situations. For instance, I used to advise mothers to wean their infants from breastfeeding if they were pregnant again, as I believed the quality of the milk deteriorated. However, I learned that this approach was incorrect during the training. A mother can breastfeed both her newborn and older child as long as there is enough milk available after giving birth,” says Aliya.
On positive parenting and the involvement of fathers in the upbringing of the child
“In my consultations with the parents of my young patients, I emphasize the importance of fathers being actively involved in the upbringing and development of their children because mothers are often solely responsible for childcare. I also make an effort to prevent postpartum depression in mothers by encouraging family members to be understanding and caring towards them,” reflects Dr. Kartabayeva.
This childcare hero also notes that the active participation of grandparents and relatives in the family environment also positively impacts child development.
On the knowledge and skills gained from the training
“I have noticed a significant difference between my knowledge before and after participating in the project. I am very grateful for having taken part in the project and feel proud to be a UNICEF Silver Volunteer,” Aliya states.
Aliya further adds that even though the training has ended, many participants still stay in touch, exchanging ideas and information about monitoring early childhood development, vaccinations, and positive parenting.
Dr. Kartabayeva concluded: “I believe that similar projects aimed at raising awareness about immunization and postpartum depression should be conducted more frequently, perhaps two or three times a year. It is important to encourage young professionals to participate in such projects. I am grateful to the organizers of this project, as the knowledge I gained has been very helpful in my work. I am confident that this knowledge will help to promote the health of a new generation of Kazakhstani children.”
