The Ministry of Health and Save the Children are launching a P2P initiative to provide play-based learning to disadvantaged children under three. The program aims to address developmental gaps, improve nutrition, and reduce stunting rates among children. The programme has significantly improved health assistants’ understanding of child development, playful parenting, and positive discipline, with high-quality sessions and a high confidence level among surveyed health assistants. The programme increased caregiver engagement, particularly among fathers, by 11.4% in areas where P2P was implemented. Fathers who attended four or more sessions saw a 24.3 percent increase.
The initiative also improved home environments, with a 7% increase in play materials and more frequent stimulation. Caregivers who participated in multiple sessions showed significant improvements, with females showing a 10.5% increase in knowledge of child development and recalling key parenting messages. These sessions provided practical strategies for engaging with children, even with limited resources. The report emphasizes the importance of enhancing caregiver engagement and integrating the program into the healthcare system for better early childhood growth.