Azerbaijan strengthens its system of early detection and prevention of disability among children

Ankara University Prof.Ilgi Ertem and her team will supervise trainings on monitoring of child development to be conducted by 6 local master trainers on 20-21st February at policlinic number 13 in Baku.  More than 60 health professionals, psychologists and social workers and psycho-educators from different districts and institutions, such as Baku Mental Health Centre, Azerbaijan Medical University, Scientific-Research Institute of Pediatrics, Baku, Lankaran, Shamkir, Sheki, Zagatala and Kurdamir policlinics and child mental health centers will participate in the this training. National trainers will be assessed by international experts during this training in Baku in order to receive international trainer certificate from Ankara University.

The partnership with Ankara University team also involved development of a training package on Monitoring of Child Development (GMCD) for the State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors and preparation of local master trainers. All these activities are part of the UNICEF joint efforts with the Ministry of Health on development of skills and knowledge of national pediatricians and other relevant specialists on monitoring of development of all children, early detection of developmental delays and early intervention for prevention and proper management of childhood disabilities. Since 2016 more than 300 physicians (mainly paediatricians and child neurologists) were trained both in Baku and districts. After certification, local master trainers will be able to provide these trainings  - already incorporated into curriculum of State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors -  on regular basis. It’s expected that about 200-300 health professionals will go through this training program each academic year.

“When disabilities and development delays are detected early in a child’s life, we can reduce the incidence of future challenges to infants’  learning, behaviour and health,” said UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan Mr. Edward Carwardine. “This investment in the skills of health workers to detect disabilities and respond quickly, means we can have a significant impact at a critical stage of a child’s mental and physical development, and in a way that is shown to be more cost-effective than a later intervention.”