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OBJECTIVES OF IMCI
All sick children aged up to 5 years are examined for general danger signs and all
sick young infants are examined for very severe disease. These signs indicate
immediate referral or admission to hospital
The children and infants are then assessed for main symptoms. For older children,
the main symptoms include: cough or difficulty breathing, diarrhea, fever and ear
infection. For young children, local bacterial infection, diarrhea and jaundice.
All sick children are routinely assessed for nutritional and immunization and
deworming status and other problems
Only a limited number of clinical signs are used
A combination of individual signs leads to a childs classification within one or
more symptom groups rather than a diagnosis.
IMCI management procedures use limited number of essential drugs and encourage
active participation of caretakers in the treatment of children
Counseling of caretakers on home care, correct feeding and giving of fluids, and
when to return to clinic is an essential component of IMCI
Addresses major child health problems because it systematically address the most
important causes of children illness and death.
Responds to demands.
Promotes prevention as well as cure because IMCI emphasizes important preventive
interventions such as immunization and breastfeeding.
Is cost-effective- most cost-effective interventions in low and middle income
countries (World Bank).
Promotes cost-saving.
Improves equity IMCI improves inequity in global health care.
WHAT IS IMCI?
The strategy was developed by World Health Organization and UNICEF and is used by
most countries in the world.
Ten million children die each year and majority of these deaths are caused by 5
preventable and treatable conditions namely: pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles
and malnutrition. Three (3) out of four (4) episodes of childhood illness are
caused by these five conditions
Most children have more than one illness at one time. This overlap means that a
single diagnosis may not be possible or appropriate.