The future of Namibia begins in the early years of a child's life, and today, the Erongo Region took centre stage in shaping that future.
The region became the first in the country to host consultations on the National Integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policy.
Officiating during the consultations, the Governor of the Erongo Region, Nathalia |Goagoses described investing in early childhood development as one of the most powerful investments any nation can make.
She said those in the education, health, nutrition and child protection sectors must work hard to give children the best possible start in life.
The governor, in a speech read on her behalf by Regional Education Director for Erongo, Erenfriede Stephanus, welcomed the decision to select Erongo as the first region for the consultation, saying it reflects confidence in the region's leadership and commitment to children's welfare.
She noted that rapid urbanisation, inequality and unemployment in the region can directly affect child development outcomes, making inclusive policy discussions critical.
"As Erongo, we are keenly aware of both the opportunities and challenges facing young children, particularly in urbanising environments where inequality, unemployment, and vulnerability can directly affect child development outcomes. Your inputs during this consultation are therefore vital in ensuring that the National Integrated ECD Policy is practical, inclusive, and capable of making a meaningful impact at regional and community levels."
|Goagoses urged stakeholders from government, civil society and the private sector to engage openly and ensure the policy is practical, inclusive and responsive to community realities.
Also speaking at the event was the Chief Education Officer for Erongo, Ronel Bosch, who says. "So it's to provide a strong foundation for learning to support ECD centres and educators in service delivery to address health and nutrition issues in an integrated way to create smooth transitions and efficiency in the education sector to better support parents and children in an integrated way so that good child outcomes require a strong regulatory and quality insurance system."