Kauwa told Zodiak Online today the district has inadequate caregivers, saying they have 1,748 care givers of which only 307 were trained in basic Early Childhood Development (ECD) services, against the district’s enrollment of 32,000 children.

“ECD has over the years faced the challenge of inadequate Caregivers and basically it’s because we have had caregivers on voluntary basis.

“So this initiative by the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, to give them an incentive which they would access every month will help in reducing the drop outs as they will be motivated,” explained Kauwa.

He admitted, lack of well-trained Caregivers is affecting the delivery of quality ECD services, “so you can see we only have 307 trained caregivers which is not a good development in provision of ECD services to the children,” lamented Kauwa.

The Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, is orienting 66 Mentor Care Givers in Nsanje, who will be among 2,000 Care Givers who would be getting honoraria in the initial phase.

One of the Mentor Caregivers, Elita Kampala, from the area of Traditional Authority Makoko in the district is all smiles saying, “things will not be the same. The little something we will be getting will motivate us.”

She further implored authorities, “to address mobility challenges as we work with five or six Community Based Child Care Centres (CBCC’s), we need more trainings as well,” said Elita.

Chief Child Development Officer, in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Harry Satumba, told Zodiak Online, through the Rodger Federal Foundation the Ministry received about 3,000 tablets, the purpose is to enhance the work of care givers in reporting but also in accessing various materials for ECD.

“So here we are orienting about 66 Mentors and so we expect improved quality of ECD services when they go back.

He added, “Through a government budget the Caregivers will be receiving honoraria so the initial phase is only targeting 2,000. In the course of implementation we will be able to increase the number.”

Satumba further disclosed that less than 50 percent of the country’s Caregivers are not trained but was quick to say they will continue to provide the training, “so they can adequately provide ECD skills to the children.”