Source: APO
Every month at the Primary Health Care Centre in Ugbor, Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State, in southern Nigeria, mothers gather with their babies for routine immunization and growth monitoring services. Among them is Mrs Shegu Ritawaits who arrived one morning with her eight-month-old child expecting a routine clinic visit.
But that day, the interaction went beyond immunization. Alongside routine checks, a health worker demonstrated how simple activities such as talking, singing, playing, smiling and responding to a baby’s cues can support learning and development during the earliest years of life.
“I did not know that talking and playing with my baby could help her learn,” said Mrs Shegu. “Now I try to do it every day, even when I am cooking or washing clothes.”
The early years of life are a critical period for brain development and lay the foundation for lifelong learning, health and productivity. Nurturing care during this period helps children develop the cognitive, language, motor, social and emotional skills they need to thrive. However, poor developmental outcomes continue to affect an estimated two-thirds of children in sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring the need for stronger support for caregivers and young children.
Investments in nurturing care, including health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, early learning, and child protection, are essential to ensure that Nigerian children survive, thrive, and reach their developmental potential. Despite progress, millions of young children remain at risk of developmental delay due to preventable social, economic, and health-related factors.
Primary health care as a platform for nurturing care for early childhood development
This was the focus of discussions during a World Health Organization (WHO)-convened high-level panel on nurturing care at the Africa Primary Health Care Forum (APHCF) 2026 in Abuja. A total of 513 participants from six countries attended the forum
Participants agreed that primary health care is one of the most effective platforms for delivering nurturing care services to pregnant women, caregivers, infants, and young children, while facilitating collaboration with other sectors for coordinated action.
“Primary health care remains the government platform with the widest and most consistent contact with pregnant women, caregivers and young children. Integrated action is needed to promote early childhood development,” said Dr Amina Mohammed, Director, Child Health Division, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
What implementation can look like: lessons from Osun State
While policy discussions continue at national level, experiences from Osun State illustrate how developmental support can be embedded within health systems.
A partnership between the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), UK, and founded under the Global Health Workforce Programme, is strengthening the early identification and referral of children with developmental delays and disabilities.
The initiative has trained 278 frontline health workers and established referral pathways linking primary health care centres with specialist services.
According to DrOluwatosin Olorunmoteni, consultant paediatric neurologist at OAUTHC and co-lead of the partnership, earlier identification is beginning to improve referrals.
“With this intervention, children below one year are referred, and for some less than six months.”
Health workers involved in the programme also report greater confidence in assessing children and making appropriate referrals.
Meanwhile, at the Ugbor Primary Health Care Centre, caregivers are reportedly showing greater interest in children’s developmental progress.
According to Caroline Ugbomor Osato, a nurse at the facility:
“Before, many parents came only for immunization. Now some ask what they can do at home to help their child speak, play and learn.”
Supporting caregivers and strengthening families
The Osun State initiative also supports families through ‘Baby Ubuntu’ caregiver groups, which provide opportunities for caregivers of children with developmental disabilities to share experiences, receive peer support and learn how to encourage their child’s development.
Since they were established, the groups have, reached many caregivers.
For Faridat Adegoke, a caregiver of a child with cerebral palsy and a parent support group coordinator, the groups provide encouragement and practical support.
“We share our stories. We share the pains together. We share our success together. It has been a kind of relief.”
WHO’s role in Nigeria
WHO’s role in Nigeria is to provide technical leadership, convene stakeholders and support multisectoral dialogue on nurturing care and early childhood development.
Through APHCF 2026, supported by the European Union funded project SPIN, WHO brought together government leaders, development partners, researchers, health professionals and regional networks to examine how nurturing care can be integrated into existing primary health care services.
WHO continues to advocate for evidence-based approaches that strengthen health systems and improve child development outcomes through coordinated action across sectors.
“Nurturing care for early childhood development is not an extra task for the health system,” said Dr Joy Ufere, WHO Technical Officer. “It is a core component of quality care for every child, delivered through integrated multisectoral action.”
Government leadership remains central to scaling these efforts.
“Our priority is to ensure that every child is seen, supported and given the chance to develop fully,” said Dr Mohammed. “WHO’s support is helping us bring sectors together around a shared goal.”
With Africa’s young population, investing in early childhood development is both a health priority and a smart economic investment, with returns estimated at US$6 to US$17 for every US$1 invested.
Looking ahead
The experience from Osun State demonstrates how earlier identification, stronger referral systems, trained health workers and caregiver support can strengthen services and create a better start for children with developmental delays and disabilities.
As policymakers and partners consider recommendations emerging from APHCF 2026, the focus will be on expanding such evidence-based approaches, strengthening coordination across sectors, mobilizing sustainable investment and ensuring that more children can access the support they need for healthy growth and development.
Attribution
The Osun State example featured in this story is drawn from The Early Childhood Development Initiative, a global partnership between Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), UK, founded under the Global Health Workforce Programme. The programme benefits from technical collaboration through State-level WHO representatives but is not directly implemented by WHO. The example is included to illustrate how approaches discussed during the Africa Primary Health Care Forum can be applied in practice within health systems.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.
