Mzimba district social welfare officer Bernard Nangwale says the Inclusive Early Childhood Care Development Programme has improved early learning in the district.
He said this on Thursday during a media tour to appreciate how the project has improved enrolment of children in community childcare-based centres (CBCCs).
Nangwale said before the project, children with disabilities were subjected to stereotypes that parents and guardians were not sending them to preschool classes.
He said: “In terms of disability, we have seen an increased number of children with disabilities, who are patronising CBCCs.
“Again, through the project, partners such as St John of God, have trained caregivers to provide appropriate care to children with disabilities.”
Nangwale also said the project targets parents and guardians of children with disability on how to provide basic physiotherapy to their children.
Save the Children Mzimba District Inclusive Early Childhood Care Development Programme project coordinator Zindaba Lungu, whose organisation is running the project along with St John of God, said they want to empower community members to participate in the education of their children.
“We are also looking at delivering the nutrition component under the project. Overall, we want to ensure that there is equitable access to integrated inclusive approaches,” he said.
Ireen Nguluwe, a caregiver at Dododo CBCC in Traditional Authority M’Mbelwa in the district, said the initiative has equipped her with skills on how she can handle children, including those with physical disabilities.
