Project News

In Mongolia, May 13 is a memorial day called "Early Detection Day" to commemorate the ratification of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the Mongolian Government in 2009. Early detection of disabilities opens many possibilities for children with disability ("CWDs"), such as early intervention, mitigation of difficulties, prevention of deuteropathy, and support for the family. As Ministry of Population Development and Social Protection has been enhancing the people's awareness on early detection, the JICA Project supported in developing TV commercial for the campaign, and conducted training on how to use "Mother Child Health Handbook" on May 12 and 13, 2016.

The Mother Child Health Handbook and periodic health examination play an important role for early detection in Japan. The handbook was introduced and disseminated to Mongolia^[1] under JICA's assistance. However it has not been fully utilized. To promote effective use of the handbook as well as to understand its problem and issues, the training was conducted. 23 family doctors from each khoroo in Bayangol District (the Project's pilot district), members of Central and Local Commission of Health, Education and Social Protection for Children with Disability, participated in the training.

Lecturers from Ministry of Health, National Center for Maternal and Child Health, Ulaanbaatar Health Department and so on conducted the following lectures:

• History and significance of Mother Child Health Handbook
• Contents of the handbook
• Important notes for expectant and nursing mothers
• Important notes for new born baby
• Body measurement
• Child growth and development monitoring

After the lectures, the Project Expert facilitated the participants to discuss about a possible system of early detection and intervention for CWDs in Mongolia. The comments of the participants were:

• Mother Child Health Handbook can be utilized to detect developmental delay and disabilities in an early stage.
• Current handbook contains columns/sections that parents can use to check a child's development. However, family doctors are requested to check whether the columns are filled or not, but not to provide any advice to the parents even if developmental delay is observed.
• The handbook should contain simple methods of intervention towards developmental delay.
• Medical and educational sectors must work together.
• Since Local Commission of Health, Education, and Social Protection for CWDs is composed of specialists from many fields/disciplines, it can be a bridge among many organizations to support CWDs.

The JICA Project will continue to enhance the existing tools like Mother Child Health Handbook to develop a better system of early detection and intervention for CWDs.