A programme designed to promote children’s health, safety, and welfare from an early age through more than 30,000 early childhood care and education (ECCE) providers stands to benefit about 800,000 kids.
The Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA) is the project leader for the Healthy Little Bloomers programme, which collaborates with 10 ECCE organisations from the public and commercial sectors.
The program’s launch coincided with its inaugural campaign, “Junior Germ Busters,” which focuses on preventing infection as the nation approaches an endemic phase of Covid-19.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, presided over the event and emphasised the value of supporting, nurturing, and protecting children’s health, safety, and welfare from an early age. According to him, preschools and daycare facilities are important touch points for fostering and developing a sense of health and safety in young children.
He felt that the programme would be able to reach the operators, employees, and teachers of kindergartens and childcare centres as well as children and parents.
MPA President Dr Selva Kumar Sivapunniam said the programme stressed the importance of instilling sound safety and health practices in children at a young age.
“This long-term educational programme, which aims to create a generation aware of health and safety, is aimed at kindergarten and childcare centre operators, staff, teachers, as well as kids and their parents,” he said.
He added that the operator, staff, and teachers of kindergartens and childcare facilities would get Junior Germ Busters webinar training over the following months. Teachers and parents can already access several educational resources for kids and materials for parents on the Healthy Little Bloomers website (healthylittlebloomers.my).
Roadshows will be held at child welfare homes and People’s Housing Programme (PPR) units in the Klang Valley to connect with impoverished youngsters.
The programme offers training for ECCE operators and teachers, instructional resources for kids in the classroom, and information for parents. Both public and private ECCE universities can participate in the initiative. There will be English and Bahasa Malaysia versions of the educational materials.
There will also be materials available in class appropriate for students with special needs, especially those with visual or aural impairments. – The Health
