Isiolo leaders rally behind early childhood development to secure county's future
The workshop marks a critical step forward in aligning policy, research, and community needs to ensure that every child in Isiolo gets a strong start in life.
Recognising that early childhood development (ECD) holds the key to long-term prosperity, Isiolo County leaders have vowed to strengthen support systems for the county's youngest residents.
Deputy Governor Dr James Lowasa, alongside County Secretary Dade Boru and teams from the Aga Khan University's Institute for Human Development (IHD), convened for a high-level workshop on Wednesday to prioritise areas of action for boosting ECD outcomes across Isiolo.
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The meeting opened with a presentation of key findings from a recent ECD study conducted in Isiolo, Turkana, and Lamu counties. The research assessed service delivery, identified risk and resilience factors, and examined biological, cultural, and environmental influences affecting child development.
Professor Amina Abubakar, leading the IHD research team, raised alarm over high rates of maternal mental health challenges in Isiolo, which she said are hampering children's development. She stressed the importance of maternal nutrition and called for coordinated, multisectoral action.
"We're recommending the establishment of a robust, cross-sectoral mechanism with the authority to implement. Only then can we address systemic challenges like poor maternal health, nutrition, and teenage pregnancy," said Prof. Abubakar, advocating for climate-smart agriculture to enhance food and nutrition security.
Dr Lowasa underscored the need to move away from siloed approaches. "A child's future depends not just on education, but also on health, access to clean water, nutrition, infrastructure, and how we allocate resources," he said. "We must act now. Our decisions as leaders shape the lives of our children."
He highlighted recent county investments in ECD, including the recruitment of ECD teachers, a school feeding programme, and efforts to improve access to health services and clean water—all under the leadership of Governor Abdi Ibrahim.
County Secretary Dade Boru reaffirmed the government's commitment to leaving no ward behind. "We're tackling poverty, poor nutrition, and limited learning opportunities head-on. Strengthening ECD is central to our development agenda," he said.
The meeting also saw final deliberations on the draft Isiolo County ECD Act, 2024, aimed at formalising and reinforcing the county's long-term strategy for early childhood support.
The workshop marks a critical step forward in aligning policy, research, and community needs to ensure that every child in Isiolo gets a strong start in life.
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