Vital to give a child the best stimulation and nutrition within first 1,000 days of life
Politicians and experts are debating how much money to spend on universities but the hard science shows if SA really wants to improve education‚ it is cheaper and more effective to start as soon as the child is born. The first 1‚000 days of a child’s life are clear predictors of their future earnings‚ their health status‚ whether they get diabetes or heart disease and how many years of school they will complete‚ according to University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) distinguished professor Linda Richter. The A-rated scientist edited a Lancet report on early childhood development‚ a two-year effort by 45 authors in 22 universities worldwide‚ which was launched in Pretoria on Wednesday evening. The latest research report proves that children with insufficient development by the age of 1,000 days will earn 26% less per year as adults‚ regardless of what happens after the age of two years.
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