Kakuma – October 31, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
Over the last five days, 45 frontline healthcare workers from across Turkana West Sub-County have been taking part in an intensive Care for Child Development (CCD) training with support from the County Government in collaboration with Amref Health Africa’s Tucheze Tustawi project.
This intervention, built on play and human connection, brain stimulation to improve early childhood development, aims to equip healthcare providers with skills to integrate play-based learning into childcare. The holistic approach nurtures not just good health and adequate nutrition, but emotional, social, and cognitive development of children.
This activity brought together nurses, nutritionists, clinicians, community health assistants, and medical officers from both host and refugee health facilities. It aims to strengthen the health workforce’s capacity to counsel caregivers on early childhood development (ECD) and promote nurturing care for children under three years.
According to Gabriel Lopodo, Director of Family Health, the Tucheze Tustawi initiative, which means “Let’s Play and Thrive,” is grounded in the Nurturing Care Framework, emphasizing good health, adequate nutrition, safety & security, responsive caregiving, and opportunities for early learning.
“Care for Child Development involves two key components — responsive caregiving and early learning. Tucheze focuses on children between zero and three years, ensuring our health facilities become centers of excellence for play-based interventions,” he said.
At Kakuma Sub-County Hospital, Dr Meyan Jeremiah, the Medical Superintendent, reflects on the shift this training brings. “We are now informed and keen on tracking each child’s growth using some tools that we did not utilize much prior. We look forward to launching play areas at our hospital to better engage children,” he said.
For Erot Francis, a Nursing Officer at Letea Health Centre, the experience has been both professional and personal. “Spending time playing with children is not just fun, it shapes their development. I can now identify delayed milestones early and intervene quickly. Play enhances our ability to observe, connect, and care,” he stated.
On the other hand, Nancy Ouko, Kakuma Sub-County Hospital Community Health Officer shared that, “In our African culture, parents rarely play and communicate with their children. This has opened our minds to see how bonding through play can reveal a child’s potential and strengthen family relationships,”
According to Reinhard Anzeze, Child Health Technical Officer at Amref Tucheze Tustawi, the training promotes positive caregiving, foster’s child interactions through appropriate play and communication activities. “This is while also reinforcing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and social and emotional learning (SEL) approaches for children. By integrating play into health facilities, communities and household level, we are equipping providers to ensure that every child in Turkana has the chance to develop to their fullest potential,” he added.
Dr Fatuma Rajab, the County Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Coordinator, echoed this commitment from the county health department, noting, “This training marks a shift in how we view child development — from simply ensuring survival to nurturing the whole child. It’s inspiring to see health workers embrace these skills that connect science, compassion, and community in raising thriving generations,”
Joel Lochor, the Turkana West Sub-County Medical Officer of Health, shared that the training fills a long-standing gap in child health services. “Play in child development builds communication and trust where health service uptake has been low. For years, we lacked data and indicators on child development. This training equips us to build systems that recognize play as essential care from pregnancy through a child’s first 1,000 days,”
Gilbert Kimutai, a Nurse from the Natiira Dispensary, is already putting lessons into action. “During clinic visits, we demonstrated these skills to parents, helping them continue to play at home. Even children who were withdrawn at first responded once we introduced colorful toys,”
The participants learned to integrate play in different service delivery points — from the maternity ward to outpatient clinics. The team reports that even brief play sessions can boost a child’s mood and help caregivers connect emotionally, especially in challenging environments like refugee settlements.
Stephen Ekadeli, a Nurse at Talabalany Dispensary in Letea Ward shared his experience with an expectant mother who did not know that a mother can communicate with the child while still pregnant. “She was not receptive at first but upon seeing her infant’s response with kicks following our engagement, she was overjoyed.
On the other hand, Jane Edung from Lopuski Health Center shared that experienced a mother who due to alcoholism was unreceptive contributing to their child’s withdrawal from such programs.
The trainees will for the next two days develop play materials from scratch, using locally available materials. As health workers return to their communities, they understand that every smile, song, and playful moment is medicine for a child’s future.
