WellChild Week 2017: 27th February to 4th March
Each year, Well Child Week promotes the Well Child programme. This year Well Child Week (Feb 27–March 4) celebrates the free visit at 15–18 months of age. At this time assessments of growth, development and an oral health screen occur. Emerging social skills, attending toddler/mother and baby groups, getting ready for preschool along with the 15-month immunisation event are all aspects of the 15-18 month visit also worth highlighting.
The whole community needs to support and encourage families to ensure that all children get the best start in life by enrolling in the programme.
A range of providers deliver the Well Child Programme across the country, including Plunket and local Māori or Pacific providers. Midwifes and family doctors play a vital role in linking families to the right provider when baby is born.
An ongoing focus of this year’s Well Child Week is early enrolment and timeliness. Ensuring children are enrolled and get their full set of visits at the intervals allocated, helps parents and health professionals check children are on the right development trajectory, and allows early detection of any issues. Early enrolment and getting the complete set of checks on time gives children the best start in life, and helps families access other services when needed.
