Strengthen the mechanisms for updating, homologation and sustainability of the registry and the nominal list of girls and boys under 6 years of age, with the participation of all the country's districts

During early childhood, risks, factors and effects occur and accumulate that begin before conception and extend beyond adulthood. Peru’s early childhood development guidelines include seven outcomes, two of which are related to nutritional status and consider three conditions: 1) chronic malnutrition or stunting of the child, 2) micronutrient deficiency and 3) overweight and obese children.

In the framework of the country’s Results-Oriented Budget Programme for Early Childhood Development, a birth is considered healthy when it meets two conditions: not being premature and having an appropriate weight (between 2,500 and 4,000 grams). To achieve this, the programme aims to obtain positive results for each pregnant woman, including improving her health and nutrition, reducing adverse lifestyle behaviours, improving her emotional state and reducing violence in her environment. Additionally, to improve the nutritional status of girls and boys, the programme aims to improve the health and nutrition of newborns, promote the adoption of healthy practices by mothers with children under 24 months of age (exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, handwashing), increase the prevention of and care for infectious and immuno-preventable diseases (diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, anaemia) and provide appropriate environmental conditions (potable water, firm floors, improved kitchens, adequate sanitary disposal of excreta).

Through Supreme Decree No. 003-2019-MIDIS, the Territorial Management Strategy ‘Childhood First’ was approved, which include the following three components: 1) intersectoral and intergovernmental articulation; 2) sectorisation for the organisation of the territory, the mapping of boys and girls under 5 years of age and services; and 3) nominal follow-up of each pregnant woman and every boy and girl (up to 5 years of age) with the services included in the integrated package. The strategy includes having a nominal register of children under 6 years of age from all over the country and consolidating it into an authenticated dynamic database that is permanently updated, provides information on the number of boys and girls for whom access to the different services provided by the state is promoted and allows analysis of the gap not covered by these interventions, thus contributing to the exercise of fundamental rights and reducing inequalities. Additionally, the strategy will include:

1. Strengthening territorial management to generate greater participation by local governments in updating nominal monitoring.

2. Promoting the inclusion of budget programming criteria for activities to update and maintain the nominal register.