From left: Marta Santos Pais, director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Innocenti Centre in Italy; Nada Marasovic, deputy representative, UNICEF Jamaica; Prof. Sally Grantham-McGregor, former professor in Child Health & Nutrition of the University of the West Indies Tropical Metabolism Research Unit (TMRU) Epidemiology Unit; and Prof. Irene Rizzini of Childwatch International, at the launch of the 2007 series of the prestigious international medical journal, 'The Lancet', at the Jamaica Pegasus, on October 22. Professor Grantham-McGregor and UWI professors, Susan Walker and Dr. Julie Meeks, contributed to papers published in the journal. - Contributed

The work of three researchers from the University of the West Indies, has made a global impact. The research which focuses on child development issues, is featured in the prestigious international medical journal, Lancet 2007 series. The researchers Professor Susan Walker of the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit (TMRU), Dr. Julie Meeks senior Lecturer and head of the Caribbean Child development centre and Professor Sally Grantham-McGregor, former professor in child health and nutrition at the TMRU.

The papers highlight the problems of childhood deprivation; modifiable risk factors which contribute to adverse childhood development and presents strategies that policy-making bodies can adopt to address these problems.

Stunning work

Vice Chancellor of the UWI, Professor Nigel Harris, said the work is stunning because it relates to 200 million children living in South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa.

Nada Marasovic, United Nations deputy director for Children's Fund (UNICEF), said the publication of the Lancet series "illustrates the significant and critical role of research in improving or developing new interventions for children."

Ms. Marasovic said that studies have shown that every dollar invested in ensuring children get the best start in life, yields five times the returns in the long run to children, their families and tax- payers. "It saves public funds in health, education and welfare. It breaks intergenerational cycles of poverty, gender equality and violence and it speeds up a country's economic growth," she declared.