Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What does IMCI stand for?

A1: IMCI stands for the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness, a health strategy for reducing the number of deaths among children under five years of age. IMCI strives to reduce childhood deaths from diarrheal diseases, acute-respiratory infections, measles, malaria, and malnutrition. These five diseases account for seven out of every 10 childhood deaths worldwide, totaling over 11,000,000 deaths a year.

Q2: How does IMCI work?

A2: IMCI works to save children by promoting simple yet effective health practices to reduce the number of childhood deaths caused by diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, measles, malaria and malnutrition.

These interventions include:

• Training local health care professionals to improve diagnosis and treatment of the illnesses most responsible for childhood deaths.
• Community based projects involving all community members of targeted areas to bring about lasting solutions to solve local child health problems.
• Community and household visits by trained volunteers to instruct mothers, caregivers and others in the community on the importance of early diagnosis, treatment, and referral to clinical care when necessary.

Q3: Where does IMCI operate?

A3: The American Red Cross is supporting the implementation of the IMCI health strategy in ten countries across the Americas where child mortality is high:

Bolivia
Colombia
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Peru
Venezuela

American Red Cross supported IMCI health programming is also being implemented in of other countries and regions throughout the world where child mortality is high including:

Cambodia
Ghana
Armenia
Nagorno-Karabakh region

With additional funding, the American Red Cross will support IMCI programming in other countries of the world where child mortality is high.

Q4: How can I help?

A4: To make a donation to the American Red Cross, call 1-800-HELP-NOW or make an online donation at www.redcross.org

Q5: What are the 16 Key Family Practices?

A5: Developed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the 16 Key Family Practices are designed to foster the growth and healthy development of children under the age of five. The 16 Key Family Practices are divided into four areas:

For Physical Growth and Mental Development

1. Breastfeed infants exclusively for six months.
2. Starting at six months of age, feed children freshly prepared energy and nutrient rich complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed up to two years or longer.
3. Ensure that children receive adequate amounts of micronutrients either in their diet or through supplementation.
4. Promote mental and social development by responding to a child's needs for care through talking, playing and providing a stimulating environment.

For Disease Prevention

5. Before their first birthday, take children to complete a full course of immunizations including BCG, DPT, OPV and measles.
6. Dispose of feces, including children's feces, safely, and wash hands after defecation, before preparing meals, and before feeding children.
7. Protect children in malaria-endemic areas, by ensuring that they sleep under insecticide treated bednets.
8. Adopt and sustain appropriate behavior regarding prevention and care for HIV/AIDS affected people including orphans.

For Appropriate Home Care

9. Continue to feed and offer more fluids, including breastmilk , to children when they are sick.
10. Give sick children appropriate home treatment for infections.
11. Take appropriate actions to prevent and manage child injuries and accidents.
12. Prevent child abuse and neglect, and take appropriate action when it has ocurred.
13. Ensure that men actively participate in providing childcare, and are involved in the reproductive health of the family.

For Seeking Care

14. Recognize when sick children need treatment outside the home and seek care from appropriate providers.
15. Follow the health worker's advice about treatment, follow-up and referral.
16. Ensure that every pregnant woman has adequate antenatal care. This includes having at least four antenatal visits with an appropriate health care provider, and receiving the recommended doses of the tetanus toxoid vaccination. The mother also needs support from her family and community in seeking carer at the time of delivery and during the postpartum and lactation period.