Saturday 21 / December / 2024
Muscat: In an effort to strengthen the role and capabilities of families to bring up children, the Ministry of Health, in partnership with UNICEF Oman, is launching a "Training of Trainers" (ToT) programme focused on Social and Behaviour Change, Positive Parenting and Early Childhood Development. The programme is aimed at educators and healthcare professionals in primary healthcare centers from various health institutions across the Sultanate of Oman. Its primary objective is to equip participants with the skills needed to become professional trainers in early childhood development, enabling them to educate parents and caregivers on positive parenting techniques and guide them in promoting early childhood development and comprehensive childcare.
The four-day training programme focused on several critical areas of early childhood development and positive parenting, such as fostering early learning, responsive feeding, positive discipline, and promoting the inclusion of children with disabilities. The programme also provided hands-on experience to equip participants with professional training skills. Participants gained essential knowledge and practical tools for becoming professional trainers in early childhood development and positive parenting. Key topics included the necessary skills for effective trainers, training methodologies, presentation skills and their enhancement, leadership qualities, core principles of high-quality training, and techniques for facilitating and managing discussions. The programme also addressed common challenges trainers might encounter during sessions and strategies for handling them professionally.
In this context, Dr. Badria bint Mohsen Al-Rashdiya, Director General of Primary Healthcare, stated: “The Training of Trainers program in early childhood development and positive parenting, implemented by the Ministry of Health with UNICEF Oman, aims to equip participants with the necessary skills to work as professional trainers in early childhood development. These trainers serve as the first line of guidance within the ministry, offering advice to parents on this crucial aspect.”
Dr. Bilal Kiswani, Programme Manager at UNICEF Oman, added: “The early moments of a child's life, known as the ‘first 1,000 days,’ have a tremendous impact on the child's future, brain development, health, happiness, learning ability in school, and overall well-being. It is, therefore, essential to regularly educate parents on how to handle their children's physical and mental health needs.”
The strategic programme for social and behavioral change is essential in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals related to integrated early childhood development and strengthening the capacity of parents and caregivers in areas such as education and health. In partnership with government entities, UNICEF Oman is working to develop comprehensive national strategies grounded in social and economic indicators. This involves promoting community engagement and leveraging both modern and traditional media channels, all within the framework of its collaboration with national counterparts who are directly engaged with parents and children.
