Breathe
By Priscilla de Anda Núñez, general director of Un Kilo de Ayuda.
The inclusion of early childhood in campaign proposals takes on critical importance in deciding who to vote for. From a rights perspective, it is fundamental to understand that every child has the inherent right to a full and healthy development. Candidates have the responsibility to include in their platforms concrete and sustainable measures that prioritize the well-being and development of early childhood. This does not only imply empty promises, but real commitments backed by sound public policies and adequate budgets.
Of course it matters! Who doesn't remember the first years of life as the time when they grew the most physically, learned to walk, tasted their first foods, had their first laughs and even said their first words. And the fact is that the first years of life are the most critical and formative period in human development; it is the time when it is most important to invest in the development of a human being. During early childhood, the foundations are laid not only for physical health, but also for the cognitive and socioemotional development that will accompany us throughout our lives. Investing in this stage not only benefits individuals in their childhood, but also has long-term positive impacts on society.
However, when we look at the youngest children in this country, the statistics are shocking. There are almost 6 million children under the age of 6 in Mexico living in poverty1, which leads to a higher risk of suffering from physical and mental illnesses due to a lack of access to adequate medical care and poor nutrition. In addition, their condition of poverty can hinder their access to quality education, limiting opportunities to develop their skills and reach their full potential. Vulnerability to labor exploitation and other forms of abuse are also a real danger, and the lack of resources and emotional support negatively affects their socio-emotional development, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty from one generation to the next.
In this sense, ENAPI (Estrategia Nacional de Atención a la Primera Infancia) and the Ruta Integral de Atenciones are two fundamental pillars in the care and promotion of child development in Mexico. The ENAPI, published at the beginning of 2022, establishes a framework of policies and programs to guarantee equitable access to quality services in health, nutrition, education and protection for children from birth to six years of age. On the other hand, the Comprehensive Care Route is an operational instrument that articulates and coordinates the efforts of the different governmental and civil society institutions in comprehensive early childhood care.
However, despite the existence of these initiatives, there are still significant challenges in effective implementation: lack of inter-institutional coordination, insufficient resources and lack of monitoring and evaluation are some of the obstacles that limit the impact of these strategies. And it is precisely for this reason that Un Kilo de Ayuda urgently calls for the well-being and future of children to be an absolute priority in the national agenda and in the proposals of the candidates; because only by guaranteeing the effective implementation of policies that ensure the full development of children, we can build a more just and prosperous country.
So let us not forget that the gap is short, and if not now, tomorrow it will be too late. As a mother and citizen, I not only invite governments, but also institutions, companies and every citizen to care for and demand the protection of the most valuable asset of any society: children.
Sources consulted:
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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