EARLY Childhood Development (ECD) expert Davis Gisuka has urged parents to maintain good communication during pregnancy, as unborn babies can hear their parents’ conversations while still in the womb.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday about childcare and parenting ahead of the launch of a campaign on early childhood care, growth and development to be held in Zanzibar today, he said that the concept of raising and nurturing children — from pregnancy to around the age of eight — is still not well understood by society, even though it is the foundation for a child’s well-being.

For, research indicates that babies begin to hear sounds, including their mother's voice, from around 16 weeks of pregnancy. By the time they are full term, their hearing is developed to about the same level as an adult's.

Gisuka who works with Children Under Cross Fire organisation explained that the first 2,000 days of a child’s life are critical for mental, physical, and social development, covering the period from conception until about the age of five.

He described this as a “golden period” that sets the foundation for health, brain development, behaviour, and life-long success.

The expert noted that this is a “window of opportunity” that never reopens, during which the body and brain develop at an extraordinary rate.

Director of the Madrasa Early Childhood Programme, Sharifa Suleiman Majid, stressed that protecting children is not solely the government’s responsibility but a duty for everyone.

She said children need close supervision to be raised in safe, loving environments with opportunities for growth.

The director also said it is harmful to speak harshly to a child, as it can cause mental and psychological damage as well as subjecting them to acts of abuse.

She added that children need the shared love and care of both parents to develop mentally and to contribute to building a better nation based on dignity and compassion.

“When a child receives loving care from both parents, it creates the right environment for them to grow into a responsible and loving parent themselves in the future,” she said.

She also stressed the need to protect children from various risks, including sexual abuse and other forms of violence.

However, she said that for a child to grow productively, they must be provided with proper nutrition, learning opportunities, safe protection, and nurturing care starting from when they are still in their mother’s womb.

As part of continued investment in child care and development, the government of Zanzibar is today set to launch a campaign on early childhood care, growth and development. The launch is scheduled to take place at Mapinduzi Square grounds, Michezani.