A delegation from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health United Kingdom, has paid a working visit to the office of the Chief Medical Director UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Osogbo, Dr Babatunde Afolabi for collaboration and partnership on ways to strengthen and implement the Early Childhood Development Initiative program at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Osogbo, a team care aimed at identifying and improving child health developmental complications and disabilites.
Speaking during the visit,one of the team Dr. Oluwatosin Olorunmoteni, a Paediatric Neurologist from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) Ile- Ife appreciated the CMD for the warm reception, commending the hospital for its commitment to support quality child healthcare services and its active participation in programmes designed to support and promote quality health care service delivery within the hospital.
Dr. Olorunmoteni revealed that Early Childhood Development Initiative is an NGO program sponsored by the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health,UK and fully approved by the Osun State Ministry of Health to facilitate early diagnosis of delayed development, identify early disability and severe complications in children and how it can be addressed early by medical experts who are trained for this purpose.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Program Manager of Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health UK, Suzanna Bright disclosed that investing in early Childhood development is crucial to ensuring that children attain their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society, emphasizing that early identification of developmental challenges, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, and access to quality healthcare services are essential for early childhood development.
According to her, the program is essentially for children with disabilities and the efforts implemented by the team on ways to make early diagnosis as well as complications that may prevent the child from being healthy. " This is more than hospital services, thorough and continuous screening of the child is important here, Multidisciplinary Team care (MDT) method will be used as all the clinics will work together as a team to access the child to avoid repetition or delay . The main.motive is to improve the child's quality of life" she said.
She added that UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Osogbo is picked because of the potential of specialists in the hospital and its accessibility to patients, stating that all expenses on the program including training will be fully funded by the group at the OAUTHC, Ile- Ife.
In his response, the Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital, Dr. Babatunde Afolabi expressed appreciation to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for its hands of partnership and technical support. He noted that the collaboration is timely, stressing that it will enhanced the capacity of healthcare professionals in delivering evidence-based child health care and also, give a life to a child with disabilities.
While assuring them of the hospital's full acceptance and support, the CMD said all the personnel and equipment needed for the program will be made available." I want to assure you that we will do it in a better way, a committee which will include Dr. Adesokan will be set up to ensure this initiative is accomplished" he said
In attendance was Dr. Funmi Adesokan from UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Osogbo and other members of the team
