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[Children in poor countries also have right to good health care. A new care program will reduce child mortality]
P Wekell1, A Håkanson, I Krantz
1Institutionen för pediatrik, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala.
Insights
Millions of children under five die annually from preventable diseases. The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program offers guidelines for primary care in resource-limited settings to reduce child mortality.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Pediatrics
- Public Health Policy
Context:
- 12 million children under five die annually, with 70% linked to five common diseases.
- Limited resources in developing countries hinder effective primary child healthcare.
- Existing healthcare systems struggle to address the burden of childhood illnesses.
Purpose:
- To introduce the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program.
- To provide guidelines for primary healthcare in resource-limited settings.
- To improve child survival rates in developing nations.
Summary:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF developed the IMCI program.
- IMCI focuses on the integrated management of common childhood diseases.
- Guidelines are designed for primary care providers in resource-limited environments.
Impact:
- Expected to significantly improve the care of children in underserved areas.
- Aims to reduce the high mortality rates among children under five.
- Promotes a standardized, evidence-based approach to childhood illness management.
Abstract:
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), 12 million children die annually before reaching the age of five. Seventy per cent of the deaths are related to one or more of five common diseases: acute respiratory tract infection, diarrhoea, measles, malaria and malnutrition. Consequently, drawing on international experience and expertise, the WHO and UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) have compiled and developed guidelines for the primary care of Third World children. This programme, entitled Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI), is expected to improve the care of children in areas and situations resources are limited.