Children are the most precious assets of the nation; and the future of a country heavily rests on its tomorrow’s citizens. It is today’s children who can contribute positively to the community in which they live and help to shape the future of their country.
However, this will only happen when we give due attention to them from their early age, create a safe and nurturing environment where they can develop their social, ethical, emotional, physical, and cognitive competencies and allow them to reach their full potential.
Due to this, investing in children’s overall development- education, health, and well-being among others- is of critical importance to help them grow into responsible citizens who take over all kinds of responsibilities; and contribute meaningfully within their respective community and their country.
With this same intention, Ethiopia has given special attention to the development of children – to improve the lives of children from their tender age, help them become responsible and principled citizens through promoting real-life skills,.
Principally, the Addis Ababa, the City Administration is undertaking numerous activities that will improve the lives of children in the capital. By launching a new multi-sectoral initiative- Early Childhood Development (ECD) program- two years ago, it is striving to create an enabling environment that supports children’s developmental outcomes and ensure that all children in the city have the best start in life to create a better future for themselves and for Ethiopia by 2025, as to Administration’s website.
“Early childhood development is a top priority for the Addis Ababa City administration. We want to ensure that all children in this city have the best start in life, helping to create a better future for themselves and for Ethiopia,” Mayor Adanech Abiebie stated while elaborating the aim of the initiative.
Currently, impressive children-centered works, including the construction of 305 children playgrounds are ongoing to help children grow physically, mentally and psychologically. What is more, every Sunday morning, 114 roads remain closed to traffic so that children can get together and play on the streets freely.
Recently, mayors and ministers drawn from different African cities and representatives of development partners paid a visit to the activities carried out by the Addis Ababa City Administration in relation to the Early Childhood Development programs being implemented in different areas in Addis Ababa.
In a remark she posted on her social media page, Mayor Adanech Abiebie said: “we let leaders, who came from different African countries to our city, Addis Ababa, to draw on experience, visit children’s playgrounds and related services which is part of ours childhood development intervention and we are working on it targeting to create favorable and comfortable environment for children.”
“Hoping that the seeds we sow today to give us abundant good fruits tomorrow, we have built 597 daycare centers around residential areas, in private and public institutions. We are also closely supervising the activities carried out in these daycare centers in relation to providing nutritious food for children, and services such as babysitting, health monitoring, learning through play, maternal counseling services, and special care for their complete development,” she remarked.
The visitors too appreciated the Early Childhood Program being implemented in Addis Ababa and revealed that it is a good experience that should be replicated in other African countries.
Among the visitors that ENA approached, Mayor of Lusaka, capital of Zambia, Chilando Chitangala is the one. Chilando said that the growth of any country depends on its children, as children are the future of a nation. In this regard the activity she has witnessed in Addis Ababa is very inspiring. This clearly shows the special attention that the Ethiopian government has given to the development of children. Thus, the implementation of Addis Ababa’s Early Childhood Initiative is a good experience that can be replicated in Lusaka and other African countries.
“We all know that the first 1000 days of a child are the most important times for its proper and healthy development. We have seen how much the Mayor of Addis Ababa has invested with the government on these children. The program enabled us to see how good parenting contributes to the wellbeing of the child,”
She also reflected her happiness for being part of the leadership exchange program where they witnessed children playing so happily on the street. “I would definitely replicate that in my city,” she added.
Minister in Charge of Health in Nairobi, Suzanne Silantoi also said that it is very impressive what Ethiopia has been able to do in terms of early childhood development.
The main approach across Africa has always been through education, and the stages actually between zeros to two years old are the critical years for child development. There are a lot of interventions in Africa in terms of healthcare to make sure that pregnant mothers get the right care and make sure that the infants are breast fed and immunized.
She expressed her admiration of the program in Addis Ababa as it is being implemented in a way that fits within the existing culture and context.
Silantoi also commended the commitment of the City Mayor for putting in enough finance for the implementation of the program.
Sierra Leone Health Minister Austin Dembay (MD) also praised Ethiopia’s early childhood development program being implemented in Addis Ababa. “The development program will be used as an example for other African cities too,” he opined.
Mayor Adanech also said that Early Childhood Development program is being implemented with special attention. At the capital, there are a number of opportunities in the city that enable children to get comprehensive early childhood care.
Mentioning that the City Administration has been providing meals to students per day and working to improve the livelihood of children, the Mayor confirmed that her office will continue capitalizing on and sustaining works and to develop the coming generation.
Following the conclusion of the visit, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen gave an explanation regarding the implementation of Sekota Declaration during his leadership that aims to eradicate the problem of stunting.
Since then the prevalence of stunting among children are showing significant progress despite many more activities are remaining.
In this regard, he urged African brothers to work together to bring about change in preventing stunting from the continent.
The visit was accompanied by Mayor of Addis Ababa Adanech Abiebie, Health Minister, Mekdes Daba and other high ranking government officials as well as development partners and donors.
BY ELIZABETH MENGISTU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 21 MAY 2024
