As a measure of protection to early childhood (from pregnancy to six years of age) and of securing the full development of the child, given the link established between the child and its caregiver, Fernandes Figueira Institute (IFF/Fiocruz) develops, supported by Fiotec, the project “Estratégia Brasileirinhas e Brasileirinhos Saudáveis – Healthy Brazilian Kids Strategy” (EBBS). The proposal was an initiative from the Department of Health aiming at securing Brazilians’ quality of life, encouraging their physical, emotional, cognitive and social competencies and skills.

The project’s objectives are: to favor the implantation of integrated intersectional strategies primarily focused on first childhood, in order to secure and qualify Brazilian children’s life; to define action on health field, with the prospect of integrating agenda in synergy of efforts to optimize resources and increase effects in the form of improved health in first childhood; and to develop pilot project in six Brazilian municipalities in the five Brazilian macro-regions.

The idea consists in developing publications and other products reporting the experiences of work organization in this logic: proposals of multiplying, definition of monitoring indicators and results of the actions taken in the different governmental levels in partnership with civil society initiatives. Therewith, it is intended to pave the way for production of a public policy of the State toward first childhood care.

First phase completed already

The first step was the development of a pilot project in four Brazilian capital cities – Campo Grande, Florianópolis, Rio Branco, Rio de Janeiro, and in the backlands of Pernambuco, through Araripina and Santa Filomena Municipalities. The implantation is completed already. Now it will be started the second phase, which aims at integrating the auxiliary staff to assist in the formulation and implementation of the Policy of Full Attention to Child’s Health.

Further information is available at the strategy’s website.