As part of Ethiopia’s national commitment to early childhood development, Kedir Juhar, the Mayor of the country's second largest city, Dire Dawa, publicly released the results of a baseline study on children's development and launched his multisectoral early childhood development program.
Mayor Kedir Juhar at the launch.
“I will personally champion a coordinated effort to give all young children of Dire Dawa the best start in life,” the Mayor announced. “Children from low-income communities will have access to holistic early childhood development services.”
The federal government emphasized its support for Mayor Keder’s ambitious agenda. State Minister of Health Dr. Dereje Duguma, who attended the launch, affirmed:
“The Ministry of Health will work with Dire Dawa and other regions to deliver parental coaching to each household with young children. Primary health care facilities will integrate early childhood development services into all maternal and child health touchpoints.”
Workesemu Mamo, Chairperson of the Health, Social Development, and Culture & Sports Standing Committee at the Federal House of the Peoples’ Representatives, also voiced her support for Dire Dawa’s plan:
“Members of Parliament are responsible for holistic development of children in their constituencies. I will work with my colleagues to elevate early childhood development to a principal agenda for resourcing, oversight and public engagement.”
Dire Dawa’s early childhood development plan builds on the successes of Addis Ababa’s Future Hope of Addis program and is being supported by the African Center for Early Childhood Development in Addis.
