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GirlsFund

GirlsFund

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Child Health and Early Development

Child Health and Early Development

Realising rights of children to a good and healthy start in life.

In Rajasthan, India Plan is working in isolated rural communities to raise awareness about early childhood care and development and works with government caregivers to strengthen community centres such as this.

What is the challenge?

The first two years of life are the most critical in children’s development and determine the cognitive, physical social and emotional potential of children. Future child well-being and productive participation in life finds its foundations in these early years. Insufficient child health, nutrition provision and poor stimulation can have severe consequences. But even child survival is not guaranteed: millions of children under the age of five die each year and maternal mortality continues to be high. Public health facilities and services available to the poor are under-resourced, of poor quality, inadequate or non-existent.

What are we striving to achieve?

Plan supports a range of efforts that reduce child and maternal mortality, increase child survival, and support the holistic healthy development of children to adulthood. Program include preventing and combating specific avoidable childhood illnesses and diseases, promoting early stimulation and good nutrition, as well as strengthening support for parents and care-givers. Plan also promotes and supports protective and nurturing environments for young children through integrated Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), improving access to quality primary health care and social and educational services for children and youth. Cognitive, physical, social and emotional development will be achieved through education, sports, recreation, and cultural and artistic activities.