|
Nations that
fail to acknowledge the importance of early childhood care and development
are faced with an ever-growing burden of health, behavioural and
educational problems in later years. Early brain development casts
profound influences on the cognition, behaviour and health of an
individual and generally that of the population. Poor nutrition
for the mother, foetus and infant, and its implications in the first
few years of the child's life cannot be reversed by any remedial
measures.
These issues
will be brought to focus at the National Symposium on "Early Childhood
Care and Development (ECCD) - Best Investment for the Future", which
is being organised by Aga Khan University on September 23 - 24,
2002 in Karachi. His Excellency Mohammedmian Soomro, Governor of
Sindh, will be the Chief Guest at the inaugural session at 9:00
A.M. on Monday, September 23, 2002.
The first keynote
speech on "Experience Based Brain Development - The Effects
on Health, Learning and Behaviour" will be delivered at the inaugural
session by Dr. J. Fraser Mustard, Companion of the Order of Canada,
Founding President and Fellow, the Canadian Institute for Advanced
Research (CIAR). The second keynote speech focusing on "Economics
of ECCD", will be delivered on the second day by Professor Jacques
van der Gaag, Professor of Development Economics and Dean of the
Faculty of Economics and Econometrics, University of Amsterdam.
The Symposium
will also have scientific sessions on nutrition, education, psychosocial
aspects, health economics and on the outcomes of ECCD. Other internationally-reputed
speakers include Dr. Mushtaq Khan from Islamabad (Nutrition); Dr.
Fehmida Jalil from Lahore (Outcomes in ECCD); Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
from Karachi (Foetomaternal Nutrition); Dr. Kathy Bartlett from
Geneva (Investing in Leadership); Professor Arshad Husain from USA
(Child Mental Health); and Dr. Jim Irvine from Australia (The High
Price of Low Quality Education). Participants will also present
their research works during the Symposium.
Workshops
on Brain Development, Health Economics and Psychosocial Aspects
will be held on the second day of the Symposium, and will be followed
by an interactive session between the participants and a panel of
experts. The proceedings of the workshops will crystallise a set
of recommendations targeted at the country's national needs regarding
early childhood care and development.
|
