565 Ensuring safety and security of young children in creches

<h3>Background</h3> First 1000 days of life are most critical for a child’s growth and development. Ekjut (www.ekjutindia.org) a not-for-profit organisation is working on health issues across the themes of Survive, Thrive, and Transform. Over the past years, Ekjut has been running more than 300 creches in the states of Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. A creche is a daycare centre that caters to the rural population, wherein children aged 6–36 months are provided with nurturing care consisting of nutritious snacks, age-appropriate psycho-social stimulation, and a safe, secure, hygienic and joyous learning environment for optimal growth and optimal development. <h3>Objective</h3> Ensuring safety and security of children remains a priority of this holistic package. The creches run by Ekjut are guided by child safeguarding policy for prevention of any atrocities, injuries and untoward accidents among children and take correct and timely measures as appropriate. The child safeguarding policy is the obligation placed upon organisations working with children through direct or indirect means. <h3>Programme Description</h3> The organisation selects place for creches which are away from road and water bodies, well-fenced, and not very high from the surface. Safety is ensured in all day-to- day activities in the creches such as protecting children from any kind of neglect, verbal or physical abuse; prevention of burn from fire or injury from sharp materials, insect, and animal bites; fall from height; exposure to chemicals or harmful substance; avoid accidents like choking and drowning; and restricting visits of strangers other than parents or guardian. Community empowerment on safety is an essential component of the programme wherein discussions around common injuries among children and its prevention is discussed with parents/community members through participatory meetings by using adult learning methods like use of picture cards and role plays. <h3>Outcome and Learning</h3> These safety mechanisms are reinforced through training, review meetings, and supportive supervision and it has helped to prevent any kind of major injury among children throughout the implementation of the program. <h3>Implication and Conclusion: </h3> These learnings by the organisation helps peer organisations working on similar kind of programs to gain insights and facilitate co-learning on child safety.