Objectives and advantages of IMNCI
The objectives of the IMNCI strategy are:
- to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with the major causes of disease in children less than five years of age, and
- to contribute to the healthy growth and development of children.
The IMNCI guidelines are designed for the management of sick children from birth up to five years old.
As you read in the introduction, the core of the IMNCI strategy is integrated case management of the most common childhood problems, with a focus on the most important causes of death. The clinical guidelines are designed for the management of sick children aged from birth up to five years. They include methods for assessing signs that indicate severe disease; assessing a child’s nutrition, immunization and feeding; teaching parents how to care for a child at home; counselling parents to solve feeding problems; and advising parents about when to return to a health facility. The guidelines also include recommendations for checking the parents’ understanding of the advice given and for showing them how to administer the first dose of treatment.
Why is IMNCI an important strategy for you to know as a health professional?
When correctly applied, IMNCI has the following advantages:
- Promotes the accurate identification of childhood illnesses in out-patient settings
- Ensures appropriate combined treatment of all major childhood illnesses
- Strengthens the counselling of mothers or caregivers
- Strengthens the provision of preventive services
- Speeds up the referral of severely ill children
- Aims to improve the quality of care of sick children at the referral level.