Experts warn on child development crisis

MWANZA: THE welfare and development of young children remain a pressing global and regional concern, with alarming statistics showing that millions are failing to reach their full potential.

This was revealed yesterday in Mwanza City by the Mwanza Regional Social Welfare Officer, Mr Baraka Makona, while presenting the theme “Understanding Indicators in Early Childhood Development” during a meeting of the Regional Nutrition Executive Committee covering the period from October to December last year.

He said global estimates indicate that about 249 million children under the age of five in low- and middle income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, are at risk of not achieving optimal physical, cognitive and emotional development.

“This situation underscores the urgency of strengthening early childhood development (ECD) interventions, especially in vulnerable communities,” he said.

Mr Makona noted that the figures are not merely statistics but a reflection of deeprooted social and economic challenges facing families, stressing that poverty, malnutrition, inadequate healthcare, poor sanitation and limited access to early learning opportunities continue to hinder children’s growth during the most critical years of life.

He said the first five years of a child’s life form the foundation for lifelong learning, behaviour and health.

“When children are deprived of proper nutrition, protection and stimulation at an early age, the effects are often irreversible,” he said, adding that delayed development not only affects individuals but also undermines the future productivity of entire societies.

He added that Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate burden due to rapid population growth, persistent poverty and overstretched social services.

He said in Tanzania, regional and local authorities are increasingly recognising that investing in early childhood development is not a social luxury but an economic necessity that determines the quality of the future workforce.

He emphasised the importance of integrated services that bring together health, nutrition, education and child protection.

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He explained that fragmented approaches often fail to address the multiple risks children face and called for coordinated efforts among government institutions, civil society organisations and development partners.

Mr Makona also highlighted the critical role of parents and caregivers, saying their awareness and involvement are central to improving child outcomes.

“Parents need knowledge and support to provide nurturing care, proper feeding and early stimulation at home,” he said, adding that community-based programmes can help bridge gaps where formal services are limited.

He urged policymakers to prioritise children in budgeting and planning processes, noting that underinvestment in early childhood development ultimately leads to higher costs in remedial education, healthcare and social welfare in later life.

According to global studies, he said, every shilling invested in early childhood development yields significant returns through improved education outcomes and economic productivity.

He called for collective responsibility in safeguarding the future of children, saying that addressing the risks facing millions of young children requires sustained political commitment, adequate resources and strong community engagement.

“Protecting and nurturing children today is the surest way to secure a healthier, more prosperous society of tomorrow,” he said.

For his part, Mwanza Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) Mr Balandya Elikana, who chaired the meeting, urged leaders and council directors across Mwanza Region to prioritise nutrition issues, including the timely submission of financial contributions allocated for nutrition.

On school feeding, Mr Elikana directed regional education leaders to ensure that head teachers of primary schools establish school farms to guarantee adequate food for pupils.

“Ensure that, for a head teacher to retain his or her position, one of the key performance indicators is setting aside land for cultivation in order to harvest food for school meals,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Mwanza Regional Nutrition Officer, Mrs Sophia Lazaro, said nutrition is a cross-cutting issue and that every government department or institution in the region has a responsibility to allocate sufficient budgets for nutrition interventions within their respective mandates.

“To ensure communities are healthy and well nourished, every department must professionally oversee the implementation of its nutrition-related responsibilities,” she emphasised.

The Mwanza Regional Medical Officer, Dr Jesca Lebba, urged pregnant women in the region to consume essential food groups for the well-being of their unborn children and to develop a culture of attending antenatal clinics to help prevent the birth of stunted children.