Media release from Every Child Counts

1000 days to get it right for every child: Labour plans for expansion of Well Child service welcomed

The announcement today that Labour would expand Well Child provision to enable nurses to visit vulnerable mothers at home before the birth of baby is a welcome commitment to invest in children’s early years,” says Every Child Counts.

“Visiting parents prior to the birth of baby helps establish the relationship between them and their well child nurse. Evidence from a Plunket pilot in Hawkes Bay shows that this increases the likelihood of babies getting the well child checks they need,” says Every Child Counts manager, Deborah Morris-Travers.

“This proposal also reflects some of the best practice overseas – such as in Canada – where visits pre-birth help to screen for any risks to baby and provide an opportunity to address those risks prior to birth. Investment in services that build the support for, and capability of, new parents will deliver better outcomes for babies and save money in the long-term.

“Every Child Counts has long advocated for this kind of preventative approach, which focuses on the baby’s first 1000 days of life, and we welcome Labour’s announcement.

“In this time of recession, when all evidence point to the nation’s children being in crisis, it is imperative that political parties have a strong focus on policies that build stronger families and communities. In the run-up to General Election 2014 we encourage all political parties to state clearly their commitment to policies for children particularly in housing, income, support for parents, and education,” concludes Ms Morris-Travers.

*Every Child Counts is a coalition of organisations and individuals working to improve the status and wellbeing of NZ children, driven by Barnardos, Plunket, UNICEF, Save the Children, and Ririki. www.everychildcounts.org.nz

Twitter: @ECCNZ

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ENDS

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