The low intake of students at the Early Childhood Development level or in preschools was termed a national crisis by the Minister of Health, Valasi Tafito Selesele.

He made the bold statement at the National Early Children Development Awareness Campaign consultation on Monday. 

He urged leaders in Samoa, from government to the private sector, to the community and churches to "talk less and take more action". 

He was referring to the low percentage of children under five who are enrolled in preschool. 

Valasi noted that a holistic approach was needed to raise awareness about the importance of providing a safe, healthy environment for a child in Samoa during the first three years of his or her life. 

Data revealed at the high-level consultation aimed at galvanising support and action towards enhancing the country's E.C.D. framework highlighted a number of challenges. 

The first one is that 70 per cent of children under the age of five-years do not attend preschool. In addition, it noted that Samoa faces a high infant mortality rate of 15 per 1,000 live births, widespread experience of violent discipline among children aged 1-14, insufficient data on E.C.D. program attendance and home-based stimulation.

Other challenges include persistent funding shortages and inadequate quality of ECD services, increasing incidence of childhood stunting, reflecting a public health concern and disruptions caused by natural disasters affecting ECD infrastructure and safety.

Despite these challenges, Samoa has made strides in E.C.D. policy development. 

This includes completion of an E.C.D. framework and a costed action plan pending national endorsement, launching of a National ECD Awareness Campaign with UNICEF support to mobilise stakeholders, implementation of a decentralised $1 million project enhancing ECD infrastructure and training, establishment of 125 early childhood education (ECE) centers and mandatory ECE attendance for four-year-olds and integration of ECD into national strategies like the "Pathway to the Development of Samoa," focusing on professionalising the ECD workforce across districts.

Minister for Women, Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.), Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio'o urged for immediate action. 

She highlighted the need to secure targeted funding for E.C.D. programs, professionalise the ECD workforce to deliver high-quality services and develop inclusive and accessible E.C.D. programs tailored to diverse needs.

Minister of Health, Valasi Tafito Selesele, reinforced the urgency for holistic community engagement and robust E.C.D. policies. He stressed the importance of prenatal care and parental responsibility in ensuring children's well-being from conception.

The consultation concluded with a resounding commitment to translate discussions into tangible actions that prioritise Samoa's youngest citizens. The momentum gathered at Le Lava Hotel sets the stage for forthcoming community-based consultations in Upolu and Savai'i, reinforcing the importance of a unified approach towards early childhood development in Samoa.

In closing, the words of Minister Mulipola resonated: "Investing in early childhood development is investing in our future. Let us ensure that every child in Samoa has the best start in life."