Title: Early child development in developing countries [letter]

POPLINE Document Number: 314475

Author(s):

Grantham-McGregor S

Source citation:

Lancet, 2007 Mar 10;369(9564):824.

Abstract:

"Finally I have data to convince my Minister of Finance to invest in early child development" reported the Minister of Women and Child Development, Malawi, at a meeting held at the Institute of Child Health, London, UK, to mark The Lancet's series on child development in developing countries (Jan 6--Jan 20).1--3 At the meeting, hosted by the Centre for International Health and Development, presenters explained that more than 200 million children younger than 5 years are not developing to their potential owing to poverty, poor health, and nutrition. Although effective interventions are available, coverage is low. Representatives from WHO, UNICEF, and the World Bank expressed a strong commitment to strengthening programmes and research to move the Lancet recommendations forward. Other agencies including UNESCO, the Bernard van Leer and Aga Khan Foundations, and many non-governmental organisations explained how they are putting the recommendations into practice. The Lancet steering group will become the International Child Development Committee. This year, we plan to advocate for early child development programmes through presentations at meetings in Turkey, India, Spain, Venezuela, and Bangladesh and at the Society for Research in Child Development and the Pediatric Academic Societies. We will meet at the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Study and Conference Center to develop implementation strategies and establish priorities in collaboration with the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative. We will provide guidance in assessment of existing programmes, development of new models for delivering services, and integration of child development activities into health and nutrition services. In 2 years, we will report on global progress in early child development programmes. (full text)

Keywords:

Malawi
Developing Countries
Children
Poverty
Nutrition
Health Services
Child Development
WHO
UNICEF
Africa, Southern
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Health
Delivery of Health Care
Biology
UN
International Agencies
Organizations
Political Factors
Sociocultural Factors