First Lady Jeannette Kagame, on Thursday September 1, officially inaugurated EZA - Urugwiro ECD centre, located in Village Urugwiro in Kacyiru. Jointly established in 2021 by the Office of the President, Imbuto Foundation and Unity Club, the centre aims to provide day care services for children below 3 years of age. It started offering services to employees of Urugwiro Village since 2021 and 17 children are graduating, joining nursery school in the next academic year. The centre offers day-care services to employees' children aged between three months and three years, to facilitate parents and especially new mothers, to practice exclusive breastfeeding even after their maternity leave. Eza – Urugwiro ECD’s team includes seven dedicated caregivers, a nurse and a coordinator. Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a formative and critical phase of rapid growth. It spans from conception to 6 years of age. During this period, children need adequate nutrition, appropriate healthcare, protection, play-based learning and brain stimulation. It is in this regard that the centre was established so that parents can leave their children in safe hands of nurturing caregivers, help mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding after their maternity leave, and provide means for working parents to stabilise the work-life balance among other purposes. The event was also attended by Judith Uwizeye, Minister in the Office of the President, representing the office, Jeanette Bayisenge, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Minister for Public Service and Labour Fanfan Rwanyindo and Clare Akamanzi CEO Rwanda Development Board. Others included,City of Kigali Mayor Pudence Rubingisa, Nadine Umutoni, the Director-General of the National Child Development Agency, Julianna Lindsey, the UNICEF Representative in Rwanda and Chairperson of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, Robert Bafakulera, among others.
