By Andrew Gondwe

Chitipa, December 21, Mana: Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, has applauded Lusubilo Community Care Organization for training care-givers in promoting Early Childhood Development (ECD) in northern region.

The ministry’s Chief Child Affairs Officer, Martha Chiwanda, made the remarks Friday in Chitipa when she awarded certificates in early childhood development to 40 caregivers drawn from Chitipa, Karonga and Rumphi districts after completing a two-week training.

Chiwanda said the ministry is committed to ensuring that care-givers are well equipped with knowledge and skills on child stimulation so that children grow and develop holistically.

“The graduants have gone through a very critical training as they also, among others, acquired knowledge and skills on how to handle children, including those with disabilities, so that every child is supported according to their needs,” said Chiwanda.

She urged the care-givers to build good relationship among themselves, primary school teachers, community members, parents and guardians so that the targeted children for community based care centres (CBCCs) have adequate parental care, education and support.

"Such relationship among all involved players will ensure that children are well transitioned from CBCCs to primary schools where we expect them to perform much better than those who never went to CBCCs,” she said.

Lusubilo Community Care Organization Orphan and Vulnerable Children Officer, Wisdom Kayange, said the organization conducted the training to impart caregivers with knowledge on ECD principles.

Kayange said most caregivers have difficulties in handling children under ECD due to lack of knowledge of what is expected of them.

"We expect that these caregivers will share the knowledge gained with their colleagues and communities which they live in so that children's rights are protected and promoted," Kayange said.

One of the caregivers, Catherine Mshali, from Tichepetse CBCC in Rumphi District described the training as an eye opener in as far as child development is concerned.

"Now the knowledge and skills we have gained will make us improve our service delivery as we will follow all the principles based on ECD government recommendations," assured Mshali.

Among the 40 care-givers, 33 are female while seven are male.