ECD
Early Childhood DevelopmentPediatricians Promoting Early Childhood Development
Nutrition and health. Protection from harm. Nurturing care and stimulation. These are the ingredients children need for a healthy start to life. The science behind early childhood development (ECD) is clear – a child’s brain is built, not born. The time between pregnancy and age three is the most critical period in shaping their lives during childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Unfortunately, 250 million of the world’s children under five are at risk of not reaching their full developmental potential. Almost 1 in 5 experience in stunting from malnutrition early in life. More than 300 million children under five have been exposed to societal violence. These conditions directly impact a child’s development today and their ability to contribute to society in the future.
In partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Kenya Paediatric Association, and Paediatric Association of Tanzania, the American Academy of Pediatrics seeks to leverage the clinical expertise, patient experience, and expansive networks of pediatricians to ensure national and sub-national health care systems are responsive and inclusive of nurturing care for early childhood development.
Why Pediatricians?
Pediatricians & national pediatric societies are uniquely qualified to promote nurturing care for early childhood development in their communities and countries. They reach children and caregivers across the health system.
Valued child health expert
Pediatricians are trusted by the community.
Medical school professor
Pediatricians are training the next generation of child health providers.
Child health provider
Pediatricians often see children in their earliest years (0 to 3).
Civil society leader
Pediatricians, respected by governments and civil societies, can help shape their country’s health system.
Hospital supervisor
Pediatricians manage nurses and other cadres of health providers serving children.
Connector
Pediatricians are medical providers and educators providing care to children and supporting caregivers.
Implementation Approach
PHASE ONE
PHASE TWO
PHASE THREE
ASSESSING
Understand the organizational and ECD advocacy capacity of national pediatric societies in Kenya and Tanzania
PREPARING
Participate in an on-line learning platform for ECD skills-building ahead of in-person workshop
TRAINING
Hold advocacy workshop to train ECD champions and identify national and sub-national priorities
IMPLEMENTING
Engage with multiple sectors and levels of government to address ECD advocacy priorities
LEARNING AND SUSTAINING
Share learnings across sectors to promote institutionalization.
Components of Nurturing Care
Good Health
Antenatal & childbirth care | Essential care for newborns | Immunizations | Integrated management of childhood illnesses | Early detection of disabling conditions | Prevention & cessation of tobacco & alcohol use | Limit exposure to secondhand smoke
Early Learning
Support early reading & play | Guidance on low-resource strategies to promote early learning | Monitor cognitive, physical, language, motor, social, & emotional development
Security & Safety
Birth registration | Good hygiene practices | Guidance to reduce exposure to air pollution | Advocate for safe family & play places | Ensure social care services understand ECD
Adequate Nutrition
Support breastfeeding | Monitor weight and height | Management of malnutrition | Promote diet diversity
Responsive Caregiving
Skin-to-skin & Kangaroo care |
Coach caregivers on play & responsive feeding| Milestone tracking
*Adapted from Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development: A framework for helping children survive and thrive to transform health and human potential.
Children at Risk of Poor Development
Fred Were is Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health specializing in Newborn Medicine. He presently holds portfolios of; Dean School of Medicine University of Nairobi (UON), Acting Principal College of Health Sciences (UON), Adjunct Professor of Newborn Medicine at the Aga Khan University (East Africa) and Executive Director/Chief Researcher of The Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium a wing of the Kenya Paediatric Association.
Njeri Wahome delights in all things administration. With over 20 years of experience in operations management in the development sector, Njeri as hands-on experience in strategic planning, financial management, human resources management, administration and logistics planning. She has experience providing technical assistance to NGOs on institutional strengthening for growth and sustainability.
Thomas Ngwiri is Head Clinician at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital since February 2010. He is also Director of the Paediatric endocrinology training centre for Africa (PETCA) – Nairobi which trains paediatricians from sub-Saharan Africa in the field of diabetes and other endocrine disorders. He has been a member of the Kenya Paediatric association executive since 2010 and is the immediate former National Chair of the association.
Dr. Lawrence Okong’o Owino is a lecturer at the department of paediatrics and child health at the University of Nairobi. He is also a consultant paediatrician at the Kenyatta National hospital as well as a consultant paediatrician and rheumatologist for all the major hospitals in Nairobi. He is a pioneer paediatric rheumatologist. His research interests are in the field of musculoskeletal health and immunizations. He has published papers in peer reviewed journals focussing mainly on childhood rheumatic disorders.
MBChB (UoN), MMed (UoN) M.Phil-MCH (UCT)). Dr Osano is a Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, a consultant Paediatrician cardiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital. He has been the Program Coordinator for the NIH MEPI grant awarded to the University of Nairobi: Strengthening Maternal Newborn Child Health Research Training in Kenya. He has special interest in Maternal Child Health.
Dr. Joe Mbuthia is a graduate of the University of Oxford, with a specialty in Paediatric Infectious Diseases. He is an honorary Lecturer at the Department of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Nairobi as well as a Senior Technical Advisor to the HIV programme – Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium.
Dr. David Githanga is an accomplished medical professional with over 37 years of clinical practice experience. He holds a fellowship of the royal college of physicians of Edinburg (2021, a PhD in Medical Immunology from the University of Nairobi. (2019), Masters in public Health from the University of London (2010), He qualified in paediatric cardiology from the Royal Hospital for sick Children in Glasgow UK (1993), A Diplomate in Child Environmental Health from Athens Greece (2005, a Master’s degree in pediatrics from the University of Nairobi (1990) having obtained his MB,chB from the same University in 1984. Over the years he has demonstrated leadership capability and strategic thinking that has been instrumental in spearheading the growth, development and integration of the Kenya Pediatric Association (KPA) where he served in executive positions for a total period of 19 years.
Dr. Doris M.W. Kinuthia is medical professional with expertise in paediatrics and adolescent medicine, nephrology and HIV. She graduated from the University of Nairobi with medical qualifications MB.Ch.B and M.Med in Paediatrics. She has Certificates in Tropical medicine and Immunology from the same University. She did her fellowship in Paediatric Nephrology at the hospital for Sick Children in Great Ormond Street, London.U.K. She has a post graduate diploma and Master of Business Administration from Sunderland University U.K.
Denish Osodo works at Safaricom Limited as the Internal Audit Director. He has wide and deep experience in Accounting and Audit with along progressive career in Assurance, Governance and Risk Services.
Dr. Makeba Shiroya Wandabwa is a Paediatrician and Public Health Specialist, with a strong health systems background having worked in various capacities to develop child health policies and guidelines, implement and monitor high impact child health interventions at the international, national, sub national and community levels. She has provided technical, strategic, evaluation and operational support for RMNCAH/HIVAIDS health programs funded by USAID, DFID, Global Fund and World Health Organization.
Dr. Kibore received her bachelor’s degree in medicine and her master’s degree in Pediatrics and Child Health both from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, she then went on and completed a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Washington, USA.
Denish Osodo works at Safaricom Limited as the Internal Audit Director. He has wide and deep experience in Assurance, Governance and Risk Services. Prior to joining Safaricom, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for several years, offering audit and business advisory services to Companies in different industries during his stints in Kenya and United Kingdom offices. He left PwC as a Director in the Risk Assurance Services team focusing on the provision of Internal Audit and business Controls Advisory Services to clients across Africa.
AFFILIATIONS: Department of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Nairobi.
AFFILIATIONS: Aga Khan University Nairobi, Kenya.
AFFILIATIONS:
AFFILIATIONS: JKUAT Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
AFFILIATION: Medical services Nairobi City County
AFFILIATIONS: Aga Khan University Hospital
AFFILIATIONS: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kenyatta University.
AFFILIATIONS: Aga Khan University Hospital
Affiliation: Machakos County / Adora Children Clinic
AFFILIATIONS: Gertrudes Childrens Hospital