By Kareny Masasy, Shinyanga
Stakeholders in Shinyanga Region have been urged to actively participate in the National Integrated Programme for Early Childhood Care, Development and Growth (PJT-MMMAM), as well as the Regional Strategic Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children (MTAKUWWA), in order to build a better and more productive future generation.
The call was made today during a stakeholders’ meeting on Early Childhood Care and Development held at the Regional Medical Officer’s office hall. The meeting was organized by ICS in collaboration with the Regional PJT-MMMAM Coordinator, who is also the Social Welfare Officer, Lyidia Kwesigabo.
While introducing the MMMAM programme to various stakeholders, Kwesigabo emphasized that the main goal is to ensure children grow up with five key pillars: responsive caregiving, good health, proper nutrition, early learning, and protection and safety. She noted that these elements are critical in preventing early childhood risks, as brain development begins even before birth.
“That is why we focus on children from birth to eight years. When they interact with others through play, receive responsive care from adults, and are exposed to positive environments, they learn many important skills that shape them into responsible individuals in the future,” said Kwesigabo.
She further explained that children who lack proper care and development face multiple risks, including exposure to family conflicts, poverty, poor nutrition, and social isolation when they are confined indoors without interacting with peers.
On her part, the Shinyanga Regional Community Development Officer, Bestina Gunje, highlighted the National Strategy to End Violence Against Women and Children, which was implemented from 2021 to 2024/2025. She noted that the region adapted the strategy to address local challenges through eight key priority areas.
Gunje stated that these priorities include strengthening household economic capacity, eliminating violence in marketplaces, and ensuring girls’ access to education. She reported notable achievements such as a reduction in teenage pregnancies, decreased violence in marketplaces, provision of interest-free loans to women, youth, and people with disabilities, and a decline in harmful cultural beliefs.
“We have trained over 5,000 youth, distributed sanitary pads to schoolgirls to support their education, established integrated support centers for survivors of violence, acquired two vehicles, and revitalized MTAKUWWA committees at the ward level,” she said.
She further explained that the region has developed a second phase of the strategic plan, running from 2025/2026 to 2030. Key priorities include strengthening family economic capacity through continued provision of interest-free loans to special groups, enabling eligible street vendors to access bank loans, and involving men in the programme to address challenges they also face, including violence.
Gunje added that the new phase introduces a key component on information and communication technology (ICT), recognizing its rapid growth and potential risks. The plan emphasizes safe use of technology, especially for children, as many parents allow unsupervised access to mobile phones and television.
Lucy Maganga from ICS, a leading organization in early childhood development in the region, explained that the organization coordinates stakeholders at the regional level to ensure all actors working on early childhood development (ECD) operate in alignment.
“To support the coordination of service providers so that the services offered to children are of high quality and sustainable, and to advocate with all six local councils to allocate budgets ensuring that children aged 0–8 receive appropriate services. She also urged all stakeholders providing child services to join the Early Childhood Care Network (TECDEN) to effectively implement their activities,” said Maganga.
The Regional PJT-MMMAM Coordinator, who is also a Social Welfare Officer, Lyidia Kwesigabo.
Lucy Maganga, a representative of the Invest in Children Society (ICS), which coordinates early childhood care and development activities in Shinyanga Region.
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Cecilia Msangwa, a representative of YAWE, taking notes during the meeting.
