An extensive research conducted by International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh shows that play-based child-rearing programmes significantly enhance children鈥檚 cognitive, language, physical, and behavioural development.
Jena Derakhshani Hamadani, an emeritus scientist from the Maternal and Child Health Division of the ICDDR,B presented decades of research findings on early childhood development at a dissemination seminar held at the
icddr,b auditorium in the capital鈥檚 Mohakhali on Thursday.
Mentioning that comprehensive child development can be accelerated affordably through age-appropriate play, the scientist said that under the Play-based Child-Rearing Programme, children showed accelerated cognitive development, while those not enrolled experienced a decline in cognitive abilities.
Addressing the seminar as chief guest, health and family welfare minister Samanta Lal Sen emphasised the need to enhance the healthcare system in rural areas to strengthen the country鈥檚 overall healthcare system.
The research findings indicated that poor Bangladeshi children exhibited cognitive deficits starting at 7 months of age, and arsenic, manganese, and cadmium were identified as detrimental to children鈥檚 cognitive function.
The government in partnership with the icddr,b is implementing early childhood development programmes through community clinics in the Primary Health Care system to enhance parents鈥� childcare knowledge and skills, promoting holistic child development.聽
Being implemented across 613 community clinics in 21 upazilas across Narsingdi, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, and Lakshmipur districts, the programme trained 485 health and family planning officials on early childhood development, who in turn trained 1,821 frontline health workers including community health care providers, health assistants, and family welfare assistants to deliver the services.
More than 14,000 caregivers of children aged 6-36 months have so far been trained under the programme.
ICDDR,B鈥檚, a Bangladesh-based international health research institution, evaluation found that participating mothers improved knowledge and skills in child nurturing practices, indicating the initiative鈥檚 potential in fostering talented children and shaping a smarter Bangladesh.聽聽聽
State minister for health and family welfare Rokeya Sultana, and director general at the Directorate General of Health Services professor Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam were present as special guests at the seminar, where ICDDR,B executive director Tahmeed Ahmed delivered the welcome speech.
