The AIIMS Bhubaneswar in collaborations with the Unicef Odisha organised a webinar on ‘Early Childhood Development (ECD): issues, challenges and way forward.'
It was attended by experts including Additional Professor, Pediatrics, AIIMS Dr Bhagirathi Dwibedi, Chief Field Office, Unicef, Odisha Dr Monica O Nielsen, Senior Advisor NHM, Unicef and former Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Mumbai, Dr Mridula Phadke, Director of Family Welfare, Odisha, Dr Bijay Kumar Panigrahy, Associate Professors,Dr Swayam Pragyan Parida and Assistant Professor Dr Prajna Paramita Giri from AIIMS, Nutrition Specialist, Unicef Odisha Sourav Bhattacharjee among others.
Dr Bhagirathi Dwibedi in his keynote address discussed about various developmental milestones in a child and how factors like immunization, growth monitoring, primary health care and supplementary nutrition can affect ECD. While talking on ECD in relation to nutrition during Covid 19, Dr Mridula Phadke emphasized on the 1,000 days of life which consists of the conception period (270 days) and the first 2 years of life (730 days).
Speaking on the ECD programming in India- Unicef perspective Dr Monica O Nielsen, highlighted on different programmatic strategies adopted by Unicef including capacity building of for frontline workers, increasing awareness among care givers, promoting policies, integrated ECD package, etc.
Dr Bijay Kumar Panigrahy talked about the efforts and initiatives taken by the Government of Odisha for ECD which includes involvement of ASHA, Anganwadi Workers, female health workers and an Odia booklet for them which depict the scientific basis of first 1,000 days of life.