Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI)

The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) programme helps improve child care practices by involving communities at the household level in all efforts to reduce preventable childhood diseases, especially in children less than 5 years of age.  

Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) is a strategy developed by the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Division of Child Health and Development and UNICEF for the care of children at first-level health facilities. It’s  been introduced in more than 30 countries around the world to address morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years.

Sick children often arrive at primary health care facilities with a number of medical related issues and have to be managed in an integrated manner at home and at the clinic. This is why the strategy focuses on the child as a whole, instead of on a single disease or medical condition. 

Every year, about 12 million children in developing countries die before they reach their fifth birthday. This is due to perinatal problems and many during the first year of life, and seven in 10 of these deaths are due to 5 main diseases, including:

• acute respiratory infections (mostly pneumonia), 
• diarrhoea,
• measles,
• malnutrition, and
• malaria (found only in Kwazulu/Natal Mpumalanga and the Northern Province).

The Western Cape Department of Health’s guidelines have been developed to complement the WHO's list and adapt it to include priority conditions affecting children in the Western Cape specifically. Illnesses that are managed from when the child is born to 5 years old, include:

• diarrhoea,
• acute respiratory infections (including asthma),
• upper respiratory infections (including ear infections),
• malnutrition,
• tuberculosis,
• HIV/Aids,
• child abuse,
• meningitis,
• management of the critically ill child,
• helping babies to breathe,
• maternal danger signs, and
• skin problems.

Treatment:

Primary health care staff are trained to identify children who have these illnesses. Sick children are assessed according to their symptoms and signs.

Treatment is given if necessary, and as the caregiver or parent you’ll be counselled and  advised on the follow-up care for your child.

• Severely ill children are urgently referred to hospital.
• Moderately ill children get specific treatment at primary health care level and at home.
• Those that are mildly are given supportive therapy and counselling.