A new Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre was officially opened today in the Primary Health Care Centre in Doboj. The Centre will provide early detection and early intervention services for children aged 0 to 6 years, delivered by a multidisciplinary team of trained professionals, including psychologists, child psychiatrists, speech therapists, rehabilitators and nurses.
These services will be delivered through an integrated, multisectoral approach, ensuring strong collaboration across health, education, and social protection sectors. The goal is to identify developmental difficulties at an early stage and provide timely support to children and families, enabling every child to have the best possible start in life.
The opening of the ECD Centre in Doboj was organized by UNICEF in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with financial support from the European Union through the project “EU Support to the Health Sector Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina” implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska and local authorities. With a project worth EUR 7.2 million, the European Union aims to build a resilient, people-centred primary health care system that ensures equitable access to quality services for all in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“We are proud to open the Early Childhood Development Centre in Doboj, just as we did with the centre opened in Banja Luka in June. Early detection and intervention play a crucial role in giving every child the best start in life, and this new centre will provide a safe, supportive environment to identify and address children’s developmental needs promptly. Our commitment remains strong to ensure that all children, especially the most vulnerable, have access to quality health services. The European Union continues to support multiple ongoing projects across Bosnia and Herzegovina aimed at health care reform by providing expertise, infrastructure development and essential equipment aligned with EU standards,” said Karel Lizerot, Head of Section for Good Governance and Human Services.
This project aims to strengthen people-centred primary health care in Bosnia and Herzegovina and contribute to the country’s progress toward universal health coverage by ensuring more equitable access to quality services. As part of this effort, ECD Centres have been established or are in the process of being launched in several communities, including Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Prijedor, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Jablanica and Goražde.
UNICEF Representative, Mr. Marc Lucet stated: “Led by UNICEF, with the European Union’s financial support and in partnership with Republika Srpska’s Ministry of Health and local leaders, this centre embodies our shared commitment to giving every child the best start in life and models the integrated approach we need countrywide – combining health screenings, inclusive education and family support under one roof. With EU support, we’re training professionals to deliver these vital services.
Today, we call on all decision-makers to make early childhood development a permanent budget priority. These services must not be temporary projects, but sustained investments that reach every child in every community. The future depends on the children we nurture today.”
The services offered in Doboj include early detection of developmental delays, family counselling, and early intervention support. Health professionals working in the Centre are receiving specialised training as part of the project, and a clear intersectoral referral and action plan is being implemented to ensure that services are accessible, effective, and sustainable.
“It is very important that we are able to identify certain developmental delays in children as early as possible, so that we can begin interventions at an early stage. We recently established a center in Banja Luka, today we are opening one in Doboj, and our plan is to open centers in Prijedor and Bijeljina in the near future. In this way, we want to encourage all health centers that have the capacity and resources to get involved in this process,” said Milan Latinović, Assistant Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska.
Recognizing that primary health care is often the first point of contact for families, these Centres are designed to serve as both entry points and connectors to other public services. Health professionals play a crucial role in identifying risks early and ensuring children receive the support they need at the right time.
