Helping kids get best start
Members of Ukhanyo Educare Centre had the opportunity to learn about child development at their premises in Vergenoeg on the East Bank.
Staff at the centre received training on how to monitor the growth of toddlers in their care, in order to deal with any problems early on.
School principal Thozama Kwinana said Masibumbane Development Organisation facilitated the “eye-opening experience”. “We asked the parents to provide us with their children’s clinic cards so we could learn to assess their growth, and learn to measure and weigh them,” Kwinana said.
This way, the children can be referred to the necessary health care provider, should there be cause for concern.
Masibumbane education programme co-ordinator Aletta Ngangani said they got on board to help, as educare centres needed to provide quality care and education, no matter where they were located.
Masibumbane had approached other stakeholders to assist as well.
“We have partnered with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Fort Hare, where nursing and human movement studies (HMS) students assist,” she said.
The nursing students doing their practicals assess the children’s motor functions and early development, and then refer those who needed help.
Kwinana said they had 145 children, aged three to five years, in their care.
“We wish to have a spacious centre as the one we have is very small.
“We’re also in need of a piece of land where we will be able to build a bigger centre,” she said.
A grateful Kwinana said the intervention was of great benefit to the children and their families. She can be contacted on 073-471-4778.