ECHO takes its health programme to Calliaqua

Pregnant women and families with young children, from birth to three years old in the community of Calliaqua stand to benefit from the introduction of the Early Childhood Health Outreach (ECHO) programme.{{more}}

ECHO was launched on Monday, June 7, 2010, at the Anglican Pastoral Centre in New Montrose.

The programme, which is an offshoot of the 6-year-old Roving Caregivers Programme, will be focusing on maternal health services where it seeks to provide at risk children with early stimulation.

ECHO is being undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Environment, the Caribbean Child Care Initiative, (CCSI), the Pan-American Health Organisation, (PAHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Geographically, socially and economically disadvantaged parents and children will be targeted by ECHO through home visits where parents and children will be exposed to better parenting and childcare practices, as well as receive access to health care services.

In keeping with the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ thrust to leave no child behind, the ECHO programme is expected to be integrated into the government’s service package.