Integrated approach stressed to reduce child mortality

Integrated approach can be the best way of reducing preventable child mortality besides minimizing their illness and disability coupled with promoting healthy growth and development of children less than five years of age.

Every day, scores of children with potentially fatal illnesses are taken by their caregivers and health workers so there are no way but an integrated approach to reduce the illness and mortality.

Child health specialists came up with the observation while conducting the third day’s technical sessions of a five-day long training titled “Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)” in Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) here on Monday.

Public Health Improvement Initiative Rajshahi (PHIIR) project of DASCOH Foundation organized the training aimed at preparing a resource pool on IMCI at seminar hall of ward number 11 supported by the Swiss Red Cross.

All the senior and junior teachers and doctors of the Department of Pediatrics of RMCH and Rajshahi Medical College are taking part in the training.

Head of the Pediatrics Department Prof Belal Uddin, Assistant Prof Dr Naznin Parvin and Consultant Dr Syeda Nasifa Islam conducted the sessions.

In his remarks, Prof Belal Uddin said children brought for medical treatment coming from marginalized and other low-income families are often suffering from more than one condition. At the first level of primary health care services, diagnostic supports such as laboratory and radiology services are commonly limited or non-existent.

He opined that WHO and UNICEF designed the IMCI strategy to improve access and quality of care for newborns and children in primary health care services aims at improving health worker skills, improving the health system and improving family and community practices.

Main thrust of the strategy is to strengthen prevention and management of common childhood illnesses, including in the newborn period, and support children’s healthy growth and development.