By Hoandi !Gaeb
KEETMANSHOOP – The first Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI) workshop started on Monday at Keetmanshoop, under the ministry of health.
The workshop is an integrated approach that intends to reduce death, illness and disability and promotes improved growth and development in children under the age of five years.
The IMNCI strategy focuses also on improving case management skills of healthcare providers to improving overall health systems and thus enhancing family and community health practices.
M.F Maketo from the //Karas Regional Health Directorate said despite the decline in child mortality, every year millions of children die before they reached their fifth birthday.
He said when the IMNCI was developed, a majority of these deaths were caused by five preventable and treatable conditions, such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles and malnutrition.
Many of childhood deaths could have been avoided if those children received appropriate and timely care.
The current challenge for the new strategy is to scale up activities and ensure the appropriate and effective use of IMNCI principles and clinical guidelines by healthcare providers.
Maketo said the extent of childhood morbidity and mortality in low and middle-income countries was not in itself the only rationale for an integrated approach to the management of childhood illness.
“Everyday millions of parents are seeking health care for sick children, taking them to health facilities and most of these children presents signs and symptoms related to more than one disease.
The IMNCI strategy combines the improved management of childhood illness with aspects of nutrition, immunisation and other important factors influencing child health, including maternal health,” he said.
The IMNCI strategy is cost-effective and is ranked among the ten most cost-effective interventions in low and middle income countries, he said.
Governor of the //Karas Region, Clinton Bernadus Swartbooi, in a speech delivered on his behalf, welcomed the IMNCI workshop.
He said the Ministry of Health and Social Services will also soon roll out health extension programmes in the //Karas Region, which will concentrate more on health promotion and prevention of diseases.
“We need more support at household and community level to advocate for change of attitude for better health in the challenging environment,” stated the regional governor.
He called on all partners in health to focus on interventions that will contribute to the reduction of deaths among children and other vulnerable groups.
Swartbooi said the Ministry of Health and Social Services is doing its best to give medicines for ailments, but prevention is the best and first step to a better health.