By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 22: The Sarawak government and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are currently collaborating on a project titled ‘Child-Sensitive Integrated Social Protection Initiatives’ which aims to integrate social assistance for children with early childhood interventions and parenting education.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the ongoing collaboration reflects the Sarawak government’s commitment towards constantly improving social protection and nutritional outcomes for children in Sarawak.
“UNICEF reports that for every dollar invested in early childhood development, there is a return of up to $12 in economic benefits.
“This is a compelling argument for why we must prioritise our investments in children. The future workforce of our region depends on the decisions we make today,” he said in a speech text read out by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas during the opening ceremony of the “2nd Regional Social Policy Conference, East Asia and Pacific: Prioritizing Investments in Children in a Changing Region” event at Hilton Hotel here today.
Abang Johari further said that the Sarawak government is committed to ensuring that the social policies are inclusive and sensitive to the needs of the poorest of the poor, the most marginalised groups, including rural communities, refugees, and children living in urban slums.
“In Sarawak, we have made it a priority to engage with community leaders and communities to understand their unique challenges and develop tailored solutions.
“By working together, we can create a more equitable society where every child can thrive,” he added.
Other notable initiatives carried out by the Sarawak government included the introduction of postnatal allowances (Bantuan Ibu Bersalin) for pregnant women and child, together with Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS) to improve the financial wellbeing of children in the future.
Also present during the ceremony were Sarawak Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; Universiti Malaya’s (UM) Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC) director Professor Datuk Norma Mansor; UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office deputy regional director Dr Myo-Zin Nyunt; UNICEF Representative to Malaysia, Robert Gass; and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) chief executive officer Amelia Roziman. — DayakDaily
