Community Approaches to Child Health in Malawi :

Abstract

The C-IMCI Framework, created in January 2001 based on nongovernmental organization (NGO) child health program experiences, presents a guide for programming community-based efforts that involve all of the institutions and people who play a critical role in improving child health.

The C-IMCI Framework is made up of three elements: (a) improving partnerships between health facilities and the communities they serve; (b) increasing appropriate and accessible health care and information from community-based providers; and (c) integrating promotion of key family practices critical for child health and nutrition, and a multi-sectoral platform. The intent of the C-IMCI Framework is to enable NGOs and governments to categorize their existing community-based program efforts and develop and implement a coordinated, integrated strategy to improve child health. The framework is designed to address each of the three key elements and a multi-sectoral platform that would be most effective in improving child health.

Now that multiple NGOs have been implementing C-IMCI for several years, the CORE Group seeks to document NGO country programs that have used the framework to: (a) improve health outcomes;(b) positively influence health policy; and/or (c) expand coordinated delivery of health interventions at a district or regional level.

This paper documents World Relief’s approach to C-IMCI interventions at the household level in Malawi, where the government is dedicated to implementing C-IMCI through its community network of health surveillance assistants.