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Give your child the best start! Early childhood development thrives when children receive nurturing care, a loving home, and a caring community. From pregnancy to preschool, support services and extra care for families help children grow, learn, and reach their full potential.

Give your child the best start! Early childhood development thrives when children receive nurturing care, a loving home, and a caring community. From pregnancy to preschool, support services and extra care for families help children grow, learn, and reach their full potential.

This is a toolkit helping countries adapt evidence-based antenatal and postnatal care recommendations to their local context. It guides policymakers and health planners in reviewing WHO guidelines, developing appropriate maternal and newborn care packages, and updating national policies to improve pregnancy and post-birth experiences for women and families

This is a toolkit helping countries adapt evidence-based antenatal and postnatal care recommendations to their local context. It guides policymakers and health planners in reviewing WHO guidelines, developing appropriate maternal and newborn care packages, and updating national policies to improve pregnancy and post-birth experiences for women and families

This brief report summarises evidence that tobacco use especially maternal smoking and second-hand smoke exposure is linked to child stunting, affecting growth and development. It’s an advocacy tool for health professionals and policymakers to strengthen tobacco control and protect child health.

This brief report summarises evidence that tobacco use especially maternal smoking and second-hand smoke exposure is linked to child stunting, affecting growth and development. It’s an advocacy tool for health professionals and policymakers to strengthen tobacco control and protect child health.

This research paper uses a standardised micro‑costing approach to estimate how much six WHO‑recommended anaemia prevention/treatment interventions (like iron supplements, food fortification, deworming and malaria prevention in pregnancy) cost per person per year across 193 countries. The study finds that fortification and deworming are generally lowest‑cost, while multiple micronutrient supplements have higher unit costs, and highlights main cost drivers to help inform cost‑effectiveness and priority‑setting efforts for reducing anaemia worldwide.

This research paper uses a standardised micro‑costing approach to estimate how much six WHO‑recommended anaemia prevention/treatment interventions (like iron supplements, food fortification, deworming and malaria prevention in pregnancy) cost per person per year across 193 countries. The study finds that fortification and deworming are generally lowest‑cost, while multiple micronutrient supplements have higher unit costs, and highlights main cost drivers to help inform cost‑effectiveness and priority‑setting efforts for reducing anaemia worldwide.

This report shows that global child obesity has surpassed underweight for the first time, driven by widespread availability and marketing of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks. It shows rising overweight rates, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and calls for stronger regulation, healthier food environments, improved labelling, and policies that make nutritious foods affordable and accessible.

This report shows that global child obesity has surpassed underweight for the first time, driven by widespread availability and marketing of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks. It shows rising overweight rates, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and calls for stronger regulation, healthier food environments, improved labelling, and policies that make nutritious foods affordable and accessible.

This article reports on part of the first national survey of early hearing detection services in the private health care sector, where around 150 000 newborns were screened. It assesses early hearing loss identification practices, coverage, and service patterns, highlighting gaps in early detection and the need for improved screening to support timely intervention.

This article reports on part of the first national survey of early hearing detection services in the private health care sector, where around 150 000 newborns were screened. It assesses early hearing loss identification practices, coverage, and service patterns, highlighting gaps in early detection and the need for improved screening to support timely intervention.

This report provides up‑to‑date global data and statistics on childhood immunization, including coverage rates for major vaccines (e.g., DTP3) and tools to explore immunization by country or antigen. It highlights trends, progress, gaps in vaccine delivery, and supports monitoring efforts to reach every child with life‑saving vaccines.

This report provides up‑to‑date global data and statistics on childhood immunization, including coverage rates for major vaccines (e.g., DTP3) and tools to explore immunization by country or antigen. It highlights trends, progress, gaps in vaccine delivery, and supports monitoring efforts to reach every child with life‑saving vaccines.

This is a national report which reveals that only about 42 % of children enrolled in early learning programmes are developmentally on track, highlights stark inequalities by income and gender, and shows children not enrolled fare much worse. The findings emphasise deep gaps in early learning, physical growth (including stunting) and social‑emotional functioning, and call for urgent action to improve access, quality, nutrition, and support for families to ensure young children thrive before formal schooling.

This is a national report which reveals that only about 42 % of children enrolled in early learning programmes are developmentally on track, highlights stark inequalities by income and gender, and shows children not enrolled fare much worse. The findings emphasise deep gaps in early learning, physical growth (including stunting) and social‑emotional functioning, and call for urgent action to improve access, quality, nutrition, and support for families to ensure young children thrive before formal schooling.

This journal article reflects on India’s Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy, a nationwide initiative launched in 2018 to drastically reduce anaemia by targeting multiple age groups (children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women) with iron‑folic acid supplementation, deworming and behaviour change efforts. The piece discusses implementation experience, including successes in expanding coverage and remaining operational challenges like supply chain issues, adherence barriers and coordination across sectors that affect programme reach and impact.

This journal article reflects on India’s Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy, a nationwide initiative launched in 2018 to drastically reduce anaemia by targeting multiple age groups (children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women) with iron‑folic acid supplementation, deworming and behaviour change efforts. The piece discusses implementation experience, including successes in expanding coverage and remaining operational challenges like supply chain issues, adherence barriers and coordination across sectors that affect programme reach and impact.

This executive summary outlines how multiple, overlapping global crises like the COVID‑19 pandemic, climate breakdown, conflict, inflation, and food insecurity are widening gaps in young children’s development, health, and access to services. It calls for child‑centred, system‑level solutions in policy, financing, and protection to help children thrive despite these compounded pressures.

This executive summary outlines how multiple, overlapping global crises like the COVID‑19 pandemic, climate breakdown, conflict, inflation, and food insecurity are widening gaps in young children’s development, health, and access to services. It calls for child‑centred, system‑level solutions in policy, financing, and protection to help children thrive despite these compounded pressures.

This report examines how interconnected global crises including climate change, conflict, inequality, and economic instability are intensifying risks to young children’s development, health, and well‑being. It highlights structural barriers, calls for child‑centred policy, financing, and systemic transformation, and offers adaptive strategies and recommendations for stakeholders to better support children globally.

This report examines how interconnected global crises including climate change, conflict, inequality, and economic instability are intensifying risks to young children’s development, health, and well‑being. It highlights structural barriers, calls for child‑centred policy, financing, and systemic transformation, and offers adaptive strategies and recommendations for stakeholders to better support children globally.

This journal article is a landmark analysis showing that most countries are not on course to halve anaemia by 2030. It highlights major data, evidence, implementation and policy gaps, calls for improved surveillance and multisector programmes, and proposes a new evidence-based method for setting realistic, country-specific reduction targets (likely 12–22% globally, not 50%). Achieving progress requires stronger governance, funding and coordinated action.

This journal article is a landmark analysis showing that most countries are not on course to halve anaemia by 2030. It highlights major data, evidence, implementation and policy gaps, calls for improved surveillance and multisector programmes, and proposes a new evidence-based method for setting realistic, country-specific reduction targets (likely 12–22% globally, not 50%). Achieving progress requires stronger governance, funding and coordinated action.

This publication warns that global anaemia reduction is stalling. Understanding its complex causes, from environmental enteric dysfunction and soil-transmitted helminths to social and political drivers, is crucial. The Commission urges evidence-based targets, integrated interventions, and global collaboration for measurable impact.

This publication warns that global anaemia reduction is stalling. Understanding its complex causes, from environmental enteric dysfunction and soil-transmitted helminths to social and political drivers, is crucial. The Commission urges evidence-based targets, integrated interventions, and global collaboration for measurable impact.

The DGMT op‑ed argues South Africa’s high child stunting rate stems from chronic malnutrition and poor maternal nutrition, and urges approving a Maternal Support Grant to financially support pregnant women, improve birth outcomes and reduce long‑term health and economic costs.

The DGMT op‑ed argues South Africa’s high child stunting rate stems from chronic malnutrition and poor maternal nutrition, and urges approving a Maternal Support Grant to financially support pregnant women, improve birth outcomes and reduce long‑term health and economic costs.

This opinion piece advocates for a Maternal Support Grant in South Africa to help pregnant women living in poverty. The grant would improve nutrition, healthcare access, and early child development, reduce public health costs, and support social justice, but government approval has been delayed.

This opinion piece advocates for a Maternal Support Grant in South Africa to help pregnant women living in poverty. The grant would improve nutrition, healthcare access, and early child development, reduce public health costs, and support social justice, but government approval has been delayed.

In an ENCA interview, DGMT’s Kentse Radebe highlighted growing calls for the South African government to fast-track the Maternity Support Grant, providing vital support to vulnerable pregnant women amid rising child poverty and malnutrition, with nearly 70% of children living below the poverty line.

In an ENCA interview, DGMT’s Kentse Radebe highlighted growing calls for the South African government to fast-track the Maternity Support Grant, providing vital support to vulnerable pregnant women amid rising child poverty and malnutrition, with nearly 70% of children living below the poverty line.

DGMT’s Deputy CEO, Kentse Radebe, urged the South African government on Newzroom Afrika to support and fast‑track a Maternal Support Grant to provide pregnant women with vital income during pregnancy, improve nutrition and birth outcomes, and reduce stunting and poverty. Advocates stress strong evidence and urgency for policy approval

DGMT’s Deputy CEO, Kentse Radebe, urged the South African government on Newzroom Afrika to support and fast‑track a Maternal Support Grant to provide pregnant women with vital income during pregnancy, improve nutrition and birth outcomes, and reduce stunting and poverty. Advocates stress strong evidence and urgency for policy approval

During an ENCA interview, DGMT Deputy CEO Kentse Radebe emphasized that increasing shoplifting rates signal widespread poverty and hardship, particularly among families with infants. Referencing a Daily Maverick article, she explained how many parents face challenges in providing for basic household needs.

During an ENCA interview, DGMT Deputy CEO Kentse Radebe emphasized that increasing shoplifting rates signal widespread poverty and hardship, particularly among families with infants. Referencing a Daily Maverick article, she explained how many parents face challenges in providing for basic household needs.

DGMT’s Nutrition Lead, Liezel Engelbrecht, discusses on Bhekisisa Health Beat how implementing a maternity support grant from mid‑pregnancy to three months postpartum could help reduce low birth weight, prevent stunting in infants, and yield substantial healthcare savings.

DGMT’s Nutrition Lead, Liezel Engelbrecht, discusses on Bhekisisa Health Beat how implementing a maternity support grant from mid‑pregnancy to three months postpartum could help reduce low birth weight, prevent stunting in infants, and yield substantial healthcare savings.

This DGMT interview highlights that millions of informal and self‑employed workers in South Africa are currently ineligible for maternity and parental benefits under labour laws, leaving pregnant women without income support. Advocates call for legal reforms and a Maternal Support Grant to fill this protection gap

This DGMT interview highlights that millions of informal and self‑employed workers in South Africa are currently ineligible for maternity and parental benefits under labour laws, leaving pregnant women without income support. Advocates call for legal reforms and a Maternal Support Grant to fill this protection gap

This broadcast explains why a Maternal Support Grant (MSG) is essential to help prevent child stunting in South Africa. It highlights how providing monthly cash support to pregnant women improves maternal nutrition, reduces low birth weight and stunting, and is cost‑effective, yet the policy still awaits government approval.

This broadcast explains why a Maternal Support Grant (MSG) is essential to help prevent child stunting in South Africa. It highlights how providing monthly cash support to pregnant women improves maternal nutrition, reduces low birth weight and stunting, and is cost‑effective, yet the policy still awaits government approval.

ENCA discussed South Africa’s proposed Maternal Support Grant (MSG), designed to reduce maternal and child malnutrition, has faced over a decade of delays despite strong supporting evidence. Civil society urges urgent implementation, while government concerns about cost and policy alignment persist.

ENCA discussed South Africa’s proposed Maternal Support Grant (MSG), designed to reduce maternal and child malnutrition, has faced over a decade of delays despite strong supporting evidence. Civil society urges urgent implementation, while government concerns about cost and policy alignment persist.

In this book international experts compile evidence supporting Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Early Hearing Detection and Intervention services. The book examines essential programme elements, global performance, and required resources, making a compelling case for stronger recognition to improve outcomes for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

In this book international experts compile evidence supporting Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Early Hearing Detection and Intervention services. The book examines essential programme elements, global performance, and required resources, making a compelling case for stronger recognition to improve outcomes for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

This standards document provides developmental expectations and learning goals for children from birth to age four. It supports curriculum planning, caregiver preparation, monitoring of early learning programmes, parenting, school-readiness assessment and the improvement of teaching and caregiving quality by outlining key developmental domains and appropriate activities.

This standards document provides developmental expectations and learning goals for children from birth to age four. It supports curriculum planning, caregiver preparation, monitoring of early learning programmes, parenting, school-readiness assessment and the improvement of teaching and caregiving quality by outlining key developmental domains and appropriate activities.

This quality assessment tool offers a structured checklist of key service delivery qualities for early childhood programmes. Designed to rate aspects of parenting support delivery (home visits or group sessions), it highlights provider behaviours linked to effective outcomes and helps monitor and improve the quality of early childhood service interactions.

This quality assessment tool offers a structured checklist of key service delivery qualities for early childhood programmes. Designed to rate aspects of parenting support delivery (home visits or group sessions), it highlights provider behaviours linked to effective outcomes and helps monitor and improve the quality of early childhood service interactions.

This brief presents findings from programs in Bhutan, Rwanda, Serbia and Zambia. It explains how these parenting interventions are scaled examining enablers, barriers, delivery quality, government adoption, workforce roles, and what works for sustainable expansion of early childhood support.

This brief presents findings from programs in Bhutan, Rwanda, Serbia and Zambia. It explains how these parenting interventions are scaled examining enablers, barriers, delivery quality, government adoption, workforce roles, and what works for sustainable expansion of early childhood support.

These are training materials to equip nurses, doctors, and community health workers with the knowledge and practical tools to recognise, manage, and prevent common childhood illnesses. By enhancing skills and awareness, they help healthcare professionals save lives and promote healthier, safer futures for children in their communities.

These are training materials to equip nurses, doctors, and community health workers with the knowledge and practical tools to recognise, manage, and prevent common childhood illnesses. By enhancing skills and awareness, they help healthcare professionals save lives and promote healthier, safer futures for children in their communities.

This study explores public awareness and referral pathways for audiology services in the public healthcare system. It identifies low awareness, inefficient referrals from primary healthcare providers, and sociocultural, linguistic, financial, and transport barriers as key obstacles to timely hearing care. The authors recommend public education, provider training, decentralized services, mobile clinics, and policy reform to strengthen referral systems and improve equitable access to audiology services.

This study explores public awareness and referral pathways for audiology services in the public healthcare system. It identifies low awareness, inefficient referrals from primary healthcare providers, and sociocultural, linguistic, financial, and transport barriers as key obstacles to timely hearing care. The authors recommend public education, provider training, decentralized services, mobile clinics, and policy reform to strengthen referral systems and improve equitable access to audiology services.

This article evaluates how the Waves for Change (W4C) 5‑Pillar Method, a sport‑based, community‑run psychosocial programme, was implemented in South Africa. It finds that using local youth coaches, safe and fun activities, regular training, transport, meals and partnerships supported feasibility, acceptability and adoption. Challenges included coach capacity and measuring soft outcomes, but overall the intervention shows promise for building adolescent resilience through task‑shared mental health support.

This article evaluates how the Waves for Change (W4C) 5‑Pillar Method, a sport‑based, community‑run psychosocial programme, was implemented in South Africa. It finds that using local youth coaches, safe and fun activities, regular training, transport, meals and partnerships supported feasibility, acceptability and adoption. Challenges included coach capacity and measuring soft outcomes, but overall the intervention shows promise for building adolescent resilience through task‑shared mental health support.

This handbook provides practical guidance for planning, implementing and monitoring vision and hearing screening programs for school‑age children. It offers evidence‑based steps, tools, and strategies for countries and health/education planners to integrate screening into school health services and improve early detection and referral of eye and hearing problems.

This handbook provides practical guidance for planning, implementing and monitoring vision and hearing screening programs for school‑age children. It offers evidence‑based steps, tools, and strategies for countries and health/education planners to integrate screening into school health services and improve early detection and referral of eye and hearing problems.