A total of 45 boys and girls from the Tonosí district, Los Santos province, will benefit from the new “Mi Espiguita” Comprehensive Early Childhood Center (CAIPI), inaugurated by the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, and the Minister of Social Development (MIDES), María Inés Castillo.
The inauguration of the CAIPI is aligned with Action 58 of the National Government’s Action Plan, which is to increase the CAIPI throughout the country to allow mothers to work, train and study. That commitment was sealed on September 25, 2021, when President Cortizo Cohen laid the first stone of this important center, thus reaffirming his promise to the people of Tonosí to develop safe spaces for early childhood.
The president indicated that the CAIPI provide comprehensive care for early childhood through a Comprehensive Portfolio of Services (CIS) that includes main and complementary services of quality education, health and nutrition, identity and upbringing with appropriate guidelines.
The CAIPI will offer the children of Tonosí a stimulating environment, through quality care, in which they feel loved, always respecting the individuality of each child; facilitating the general development of the personality of the little ones, guaranteeing the care and attention of their basic needs and the empowerment of all their intellectual, affective, physical and motor capacities.
During the inauguration it was learned that the CAIPI has two (2) classrooms, a multipurpose area, a kitchen, a dining room, an administration room, an open and covered play area, a garden area and an area for civic events.
In addition, CAIPI services will be free and include a balanced diet (breakfast, snack, lunch and snack) for infants. Office hours are from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
The investment for this work is 362,900 balboas and was financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), as part of a State policy carried out by the country to develop safe spaces, where children develop all their skills.
Minister Castillo, who was accompanied by Deputy Minister Milagros Ramos Castro at the inauguration of the CAIPI in Tonosí, noted that each new care center allows progress towards the goal that our children have a better present and future, providing everyone with the necessary conditions to develop their talents, with decent spaces, with safety, with affection and with inclusion.
“It is proven that early childhood is a fundamental period of life for the comprehensive development of children, whose impact influences throughout their lives. It is proven that, at this stage, there is a permanent and continuous development of adequate and timely social ties”, Minister Castillo specified.
He emphasized that, from the point of view of neuroscience, from 0 to 36 months is the stage where up to 87% of the brain develops, therefore, the first years of the child’s life lay the foundations for their growth and future.
In this sense, the head of the social portfolio took advantage of the space to make a call to society, indicating that in this process the protection and accompaniment of adults is required, so that they facilitate the growth and development of the child. .
There are 214 private, institutional and community CAIPIs operating in Panama, which provide early stimulation to 4,500 children and generate employment for 800 initial education teachers.
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