ICAP at Columbia University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, has launched newly developed policy guidelines for integrating Health, Nutrition, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services into Early Childhood Development Centers in Sierra Leone.
The SHINE (Supporting Healthy Interaction, Nurturing, and Enrichment for Preschool Children) project, developed with the support of the relevant ministries and ICAP, provides guidelines to integrate health, nutrition, and WASH services in Early Childhood Development centers. This comprehensive framework is designed to support children’s growth and development.
Its components include Health and Nutrition Packages, Early Detection and Management of Health and Nutrition Problems (immunisation, deworming, and Vitamin A supplementation), and Integrated Health, WASH, and Nutrition Services.
The UNICEF Nurturing Care Framework, states that early childhood development is a roadmap to help children survive and thrive to transform health and human potential.
However, in Sierra Leone, young children face a series of challenges, including malnutrition, malaria, and other infectious diseases, which have long-lasting impacts on their overall growth, health, nutrition, development, and learning. According to the 2021 National Nutrition Survey, 26.2 per cent of children under five in Sierra Leone are stunted, 5.2 per cent are wasted, and 1 per cent are severely wasted.
Over the years, evidence has shown that early childhood development results from healthy, nurturing interactions between caregivers and children, as demonstrated successfully during the pilot phase of the guidelines at Our Lourdes Preschool in Port Loko District.
More than 200 children aged 2 to 6 were introduced to various healthy and nurturing facilities. These included the establishment of a teaching garden for nutrition access and education, enhancements to toilets, kitchens, and handwashing stations, the installation of a water tower, a solar-powered pump, and a solar system, as well as the provision of school-based health services, community-based services, and CHD (Child Health Days).
The health unit established at the school identified various health conditions, including malaria in 70 per cent of the children, anaemia in 6 per cent, skin conditions in 11 per cent, and other health-related concerns. Referrals were subsequently made for treatment, and follow-up care was provided for the sick children.
During the launch in Freetown, attended by various dignitaries including ministers, health practitioners, teachers, pupils, and the press, Dr. Mame Awa Toure, ICAP Country Director in Sierra Leone, emphasized the importance of this new scheme and the critical role of collaboration in its development.
“This intervention isn’t just about immediate actions but ensuring future sustainability. Addressing issues like water access and providing children with education and care for four to five hours a day can significantly impact their well-being and prevent severe illness,” said Dr. Toure, ICAP Country Director in Sierra Leone.
The Deputy Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mrs. Emily Gogra, the keynote speaker, called for the full implementation of the policy and commitment from stakeholders across various sectors to ensure its success and support young children’s learning, growth, and development.
“To grow and develop optimally, children need nurturing care. This is not a privilege; it is a right,” said Mrs. Gogra, the Deputy Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. She further emphasized that children must have access to adequate nutrition, good health, safe and secure spaces, and learning opportunities from birth.
Prof. Charles Senesie, the Deputy Minister of Health 1, highlights the importance of aligning health and education, emphasizing the need for sustainable development in these areas which are very essential in the development of the nation.
“We still have much work to do in childhood development. It’s alarming that 30% of children in this country die from malaria, and over 50% face similar dire conditions. We need to change this narrative, which is why I’m committed to supporting early childhood development. This is crucial for the physical, social, economic, cognitive, language, and self-regulation development of children aged zero to eight,” said Prof. Senesie, the Deputy Minister of Health 1.
Overall, the policy guidelines, set to be rolled out nationwide across Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, aim to holistically address the health, nutrition, and WASH needs of young children in Sierra Leone, providing them with a strong foundation for their future. Additionally, the guidelines will address specific needs such as disease prevention, early screening and detection, immunization, and proper care.
About ICAP
The Columbia University-based organization is a leader in global public health with operations in more than 40 countries. Internationally they are known for tackling the world’s toughest health challenges—from HIV to tuberculosis, from malaria to maternal and child health, and the growing problem of non-communicable diseases, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
ICAP started working in Sierra Leone in 2014, partnering with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to evaluate community care centres for the Ebola response. Their ongoing focus is on infection prevention, health system resiliency, and quality improvement.