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CHILD DAYS PLUS - APRIL 2011 - Home | UNICEF Days plus (CDP) strategy is a means of accelerated...
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Child Days plus (CDP) strategy is a means of accelerated delivery of an integrated life saving package of key health child survival interventions to reduce child mortality and morbidity. This contributes greatly to Millennium Development Goal number 4 attainment. Ministry of Health in collaboration with development partners supports the implementation bi annually in every April and October. It is a strategy for improving child survival. The integrated package includes among others,8 components namely: 1. Vitamin A supplementation for children aged from 6 months up to 5 years (59 months). Children need vitamin A to help boost their immune system and protect their eyesight. 2. De-worming of children aged between 1 and 14 years. Worms can lead to malnutrition, anaemia and will slow your child’s mental and physical growth. De- worming your children will help them grow up healthy and enable them to learn more in school. 3. Catch up immunization with vaccines against measles, polio, DPT-hepB-Hib (Diphteria, Pertussis, Tetanus), Hepatitis B, Influenza type B and Tuberculosis up to 1 year. These vaccines will protect your babies from these killer diseases. 4. Maternal Neonatal Tetanus immunization of girls and women of child bearing aged of 15 to 49 years. Protection against tetanus is the first immunization a child will ever receive. It is given before birth by immunizing the mother. Newborns can contract tetanus immediately after birth causing a painful death. This immunization could save your baby’s life. 5. Early infant HIV/AIDS diagnosis for children aged from 6 weeks up to 18 months. HIV can be passed on to newborns from the mother during pregnancy or childbirth. If a mother is at risk, early diagnosis of infants is crucial. 6. Promotion of healthy behaviours such as breast-feeding, sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net, good hygiene and sanitation practices. Interventions happening in specific districts: 7. Eye screening for children aged between 0 and 15 years. Early detection of common and blinding eye ailments, especially in children, is crucial in protecting your child’s eyesight. The interventions will take place in the 13 districts of Busoga and Bunyoro regions Bunyoro region: Hoima, Masindi, Bulisa, Kibale and Kilyandongo Busoga region: Jinja, Kamuli, Buyende, Kaliro, Iganga, Namutumba, Luuka and Bugiri. 8. Mass treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Beyond their negative impact on health, NTDs contribute to an ongoing cycle of poverty and stigma that leaves people unable to work, go to school or participate in family and community life. The interventions will take place in the following districts: Northern Region: Amolatar, Amuru, Nyoya, Apac, Kole, Kitgum, Lamwo, Lira, Alebtong, Atuke, Moyo, Pader, Agago and Koboko Eastern region: Abim, Amuria, Bugiri, Namayingo, Butaleija, Kaabong, Kaberamaido, Kaliro, Kotido, Kumi, Ngora, Mayuge, Moroto, Napaka, Nakapiripriti, Amudat, Namutumba, Pallisa, Soroti, Serere, Tororo Central region: Nakasongola Western region: Bullisa, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Bushenyi, Mitoma, Buhweju, Ruburizi, Hoima, Kabale, Kamwengye, Kasese, Kisoro, Kyenjojo, Kiryandongo CDP is a multisectoral activity involving several stake holders at National, district and community levels. The success of the exercise rests on adequate and effective social mobilization through various community structures including timely delivery of adequate logistics and supplies at all levels and utilization of the services by community members. As an important stake holder, in promoting child survival interventions and saving lives of Innocent Ugandan children, I request you to support this noble cause and participate in the exercise by passing on this message to all you interact with at the place of work, where you live and where you spend most of the time. Parents, guardians and care takers you are all urged to mobilize and take the targeted age group children to the appropriate venues to receive the services (Nearest health facility, schools, usual routine immunization outreach posts) from 1st -31st April 2011. District Health Officers, RDCs, C/P local council iv and CAOs, you are also being reminded of yourss roles and responsibilities during the exercise. Every year since 2004, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with development partners, has conducted “Child Days Plus” bi-annually, as a strategy to speed up and reach more children all over the country with cost effective, high impact interventions for child survival. The ‘Child Days Plus’ involves the administration of regular, one month-long health activities every April and October. This year is no exception, with the April ‘Child Days Plus’ getting under way. This year, the ‘Child Days Plus’ package includes Vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6-59 months, de- worming for children aged 1-14 years, and catch-up immunisation against a range of childhood illnesses including measles, polio, DPT-hep B-Hib and BCG for children up to 1 year in all districts of Uganda, among other services. Women of child-bearing age, 15-49 years, will also be vaccinated against maternal neonatal tetanus in all districts of the country. Vitamin A supplementation in Uganda was first combined with measles immunisation for children between 6 months and 5 years of age. The Government of Uganda’s Ministry of Health later decided to expand the programme to happen more often and reach even more children. Vitamin A supplementation then was included in the national immunisation days’ programme and, subsequently, into the ‘Child Days Plus’ package. Here, children aged 6 months to 5 years are given 4 or 8 drops - depending on the age of the child and the strength of the capsule - of Vitamin A from either a red, blue or golden capsule to help boost their immunity against fatal diseases such as measles and diarrhoea, and to improve their eyesight. Mariam Okello, a 35-year old mother from Agwata Sub-County, Dokolo District, says she had resolved to take her 9 months’ old son for Vitamin A supplementation after she heard that it would help keep her baby healthy and free from illness. “I was told that my baby will be given a food supplement to keep him from falling sick easily,” Okello said. She learnt that the child would be given drops of Vitamin A from a red, blue or golden capsule to boost his immunity against fatal illnesses. “I am determined to bring my son to the health post again and again whenever such programmes are announced at our local place of worship, the mother added.” In developing countries, such as Uganda, where Vitamin A is largely consumed in the form of fruits and vegetables, it is often not taken in sufficient quantities, a situation that is critical in the case of children. In Uganda, nearly 3 out of 10 children under five years of age have Vitamin A deficiency, according to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey of 2001. Nutiritionists hope this figure will show an improvement when the 2011 Demographic Health Survey results are released later this year. Children with Vitamin A deficiency suffer devastating consequences, including low immunity and increased risk of dying from illnesses such as measles, diarrhoea, and malaria. Vitamin A deficiency is also responsible for poor eye health, and is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness. “Lack of Vitamin A makes children especially vulnerable because without it, their immune systems are greatly weakened,” says Dr. Sharad Sapra, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Uganda, in a statement to coincide with the start of the April ‘Child Days Plus’. “Children, particularly those under 5 years, need more Vitamin A as they grow or when they succumb to periods of illness or infection. Fortunately, a few drops of the Vitamin A nutritional supplement can save their lives,” Dr. Sapra adds. UNICEF provides funds, technical support and supplies to support implementation of the “Child Days Plus” programme. This year, the UN children’s agency has contributed an estimated USD 200,000.00 to ensure that over 6.1 million children throughout Uganda are reached with lifesaving Vitamin A supplementation. MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH Providing life-saving Vitamin A for children under 5 Naru and Nangiro are 6 months’ old twin sisters who were brought to one of the Health Centres in Moroto, in the Karamoja region, by their caring mum, Aleper, to get their third dose of immunisation. The children were enrolled for immunisation soon after they were born. From the very beginning, the health centre’s nurses sensitised Aleper, the babies’ mother, about the importance of immunisation, and explained to her the possible consequences of not immunizing them before they turned one year old. Such consequences included poor mental and physical growth, as well as the risk of contracting fatal diseases that could cause her children to die. Aleper was also told about the risks associated with failure to complete her children’s routine immunisation schedule.. “Early protection is critical. The immunisations in the child’s first and second years are especially important,” said Ms. Solome Amoding, a registered midwife working at the health centre. “Also, every child should complete the entire series of immunisations to ensure effective and full protection.” She also added that vaccines are most effective when given at the recommended ages, or as close to those ages as possible. Naru and Nangiro were immunised for the first time against Polio when they were 1 month old, and returned to the health centre 1 month later to receive the first dose of Diphteria, Pertussis and Tetanus, or DPT-hepB-Hib, a combination of vaccines which should be re-injected every 4 weeks for a total of 3 doses. Additionally, at the age of 9 months, Naru and Nangiro will receive the measles vaccine. “Many parents do not take their children for immunisation because they may have a fever, cough, cold, diarrhoea or some other illness,” said Ms. Amoding. “Yet, it is safe to immunise a child who has a minor illness, a disability or is malnourished.” Indeed, every year, worldwide, over 1.4 million children die from diseases that are preventable with readily available safe vaccines. In Uganda, the number of children getting fully immunised is actually decreasing, hence the justified need for the “Child Days Plus” strategy as a major initiative by the Government of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, UNICEF and partners to strengthen child survival in the country. Aleper understood the fundamental importance of immunising her twin daughters, Naru and Nangiro, and has subsequently allowed them to benefit from the “Child Days Plus” programme at the health centre, thereby preventing them from developing life-threatening diseases and keeping them healthy. Child Days Plus - boosting immunisation & child survival CHILD DAYS PLUS - APRIL 2011 Interventions happening across Uganda: • Vitamin A supplementation for children aged from 6 months up to 5 years (59 months). • De-worming of children aged between 1 and 14 years. • Catch up immunization with vaccines against measles, polio, DPT-hepB-Hib (Diphteria, Pertussis, Tetanus), Hepatitis B, Influenza type B and Tuberculosis up to 1 year. • Maternal Neonatal Tetanus immunization of girls and women of child bearing aged of 15 to 49 years. • Early infant HIV/AIDS diagnosis for children aged from 6 weeks up to 18 months. • Promotion of healthy behaviours such as breast-feeding, sleeping under an insecticide- treated bed net, good hygiene and sanitation practices. Interventions happening in specific districts: • Eye screening for children aged between 0 and 15 years (in 13 districts of Busoga and Bunyoro regions). • Mass treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) (in select districts of Northern, Eastern, Western and Central regions). Child Days Plus interventions will be held at your local Health Centre. Let your child benefit from these life-saving interventions. CHILD DAYS PLUS 8 key interventions to look out for ssible e es nd g d them healthy. Today, over 520 children under the age of five will die in Uganda. Tomorrow, the same number of children will die, and the next day, and the next. More than half of Ugandan children dying each day are under the age of one. With nearly 190,000 children lost annually, this alone ranks Uganda among the 20 countries in the world with the highest number of deaths of children under five years old. If this doesn’t shock you, then this will: These deaths are largely preventable. Through simple interventions like vitamin A supplementation, de-worming and immunizations against a range of childhood illnesses, many babies will no longer have to die unnecessarily. These interventions are available and accessible, especially this month. Beginning now, “Child Days Plus” will take place throughout Uganda during the month of April. The UN in Uganda collaborates with the Government of Uganda (Ministry of Health) to support the “Child Days Plus” programme. “Child Days Plus” offer mothers and children an integrated package of high impact interventions that boost immunization rates and promote child and maternal health. They also offer mothers advice on healthy behaviours, such as the importance of breastfeeding and sleeping under an insecticide- treated bed net. Promotion of hygiene and sanitation is also part of the package. This month’s “Child Days Plus” package is especially important because the number of children who are getting fully immunized in Uganda has actually decreased. For example in 2005, 91% of children at the age of 1 year were immunized against measles. In 2010 that figure was 72%. The same pattern is evident in DPT- hepB-Hib, is a combination of vaccines against three infectious diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. I would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to appeal to all mothers, all fathers and all community members to take their children to get immunized and receive other essential preventive and life- saving services such as Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming treatment. Take advantage of the services that are being offered to you and your families. The immunizations are safe and easily administered. “Child Days Plus” will be held at your local health centre, at schools and at routine immunization outreach posts. Visit one of these places and ask a health worker for more information. Uganda’s children are precious and irreplaceable, let us do whatever we can to ensure that they grow up healthy so that they can lead productive lives that contribute to the future of this beautiful nation. Child Days Plus – A Healthy Child, A Happy Family Theophane Nikyema UN Resident Coordinator for Uganda /UNDP Resident Representative Preventing Malaria through Child Days Plus If you walked into a health centre in any rural or hard-to-reach area where poverty is rampant, chances are that about 6 out every 10 admissions you will find will be attributed to malaria. It is reported that malaria accounts for 20 to 40 percent of all outpatient visits at most health units, 15 to 20 percent of all admissions and 9 to 14 percent of all deaths. Bundibugyo is a hard-to-reach district, which registers frequent malaria epidemics. Moreover, health experts say malaria is a principal contributor to infant mortality mainly due to low birth weight, and that complicated malaria in children can kill within 24 hours. It is also responsible for nearly 60 percent of miscarriages among women. “Pregnant women are more likely to suffer malaria attacks than those who are not pregnant,” says Dr. Fred Kagwire, UNICEF Programme Officer for the Western Region. Dr. Kagwire also adds that this year, UNICEF through the Integrated Community Case Management Programme is expanding and improving diagnosis and treatment in the case management of the top three killers of children under five – malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea – within the communities themselves to prevent needless deaths. Malaria not only affects the health of children, but also impacts on their education negatively. When children get malaria, they lose up to 6 school days in that period to the illness. The loss becomes even clearer if we consider that there are over 6 million children in primary school alone. It may also impair as much as 60 percent of the school children’s learning ability. Malaria also directly affects family incomes. Maria Gorrett Kisembo, a mother of six children from Bugando sub-county, Bundibugyo district, says malaria is also very costly to treat. “When the children fall sick with malaria, we end up spending all the money we have, and nothing is left to cater for other necessities,” Kisembo says. With the introduction of the Child Health Days Plus initiative, a national programme run by the Ministry of Health and supported by UNICEF and other partners to accelerate the promotion of key family health care practices, it is possible for children and women living in hard-to-reach areas such as Bundibugyo to receive free health interventions and services. These include nutrition education, promotion of breastfeeding, proper hygiene and sanitation practices, as well as the use of long lasting insecticide-treated nets. Back in Ntotoro sub-county, Bundibugyo District, UNICEF has provided long lasting insecticide- treated nets targeting 2,223 households in 15 villages through various child days plus outreaches. “I am happy to receive these nets, and I will make sure that everybody in our house uses them so that we don’t suffer from malaria again,” says Josephine Nanjala soon after receiving 3 mosquito nets. at a glance Dr. Stephen Malinga Minister of Health
Transcript of CHILD DAYS PLUS - APRIL 2011 - Home | UNICEF Days plus (CDP) strategy is a means of accelerated...
Child Days plus (CDP) strategy is a means of accelerated delivery of an integrated life saving package of key health child survival interventions to reduce child mortality and morbidity. This contributes greatly to Millennium Development Goal number 4 attainment. Ministry of Health in collaboration with development partners supports the implementation bi annually in every April and October.
It is a strategy for improving child survival. The integrated package includes among others,8 components namely:
1. Vitamin A supplementation for children aged from 6 months up to 5 years (59 months).
Children need vitamin A to help boost their immune system and protect their eyesight.
2. De-worming of children aged between 1 and 14 years.
Worms can lead to malnutrition, anaemia and will slow your child’s mental and physical growth. De-worming your children will help them
grow up healthy and enable them to learn more in school.
3. Catch up immunization with vaccines against measles, polio, DPT-hepB-Hib (Diphteria, Pertussis, Tetanus), Hepatitis B, Infl uenza type B and Tuberculosis up to 1 year.
These vaccines will protect your babies from these killer diseases.
4. Maternal Neonatal Tetanus immunization of girls and women of child bearing aged of 15 to 49 years.
Protection against tetanus is the fi rst immunization a child will ever receive. It is given before birth by immunizing the mother. Newborns can contract tetanus immediately after birth causing a painful death. This immunization could save your baby’s life.
5. Early infant HIV/AIDS diagnosis for children aged from 6 weeks up to 18 months.
HIV can be passed on to newborns from the mother during pregnancy or childbirth. If a mother is at risk, early diagnosis of infants is crucial.
6. Promotion of healthy behaviours such as breast-feeding, sleeping
under an insecticide-treated bed net, good hygiene and sanitation practices.
Interventions happening in specifi c districts:
7. Eye screening for children aged between 0 and 15 years.
Early detection of common and blinding eye ailments, especially in children, is crucial in protecting your child’s eyesight.
The interventions will take place in the 13 districts of Busoga and Bunyoro regions
Bunyoro region: Hoima, Masindi,
Bulisa, Kibale and Kilyandongo Busoga region: Jinja, Kamuli,
Buyende, Kaliro, Iganga, Namutumba, Luuka and Bugiri.
8. Mass treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
Beyond their negative impact on health, NTDs contribute to an ongoing cycle of poverty and stigma that leaves people unable to work, go to school or participate in family and community life.
The interventions will take place in the following districts:Northern Region: Amolatar, Amuru, Nyoya, Apac, Kole, Kitgum, Lamwo, Lira, Alebtong, Atuke, Moyo, Pader, Agago and Koboko
Eastern region: Abim, Amuria, Bugiri, Namayingo, Butaleija, Kaabong, Kaberamaido, Kaliro, Kotido, Kumi, Ngora, Mayuge, Moroto, Napaka, Nakapiripriti, Amudat, Namutumba, Pallisa, Soroti, Serere, Tororo
Central region: Nakasongola
Western region: Bullisa, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Bushenyi, Mitoma, Buhweju, Ruburizi, Hoima, Kabale, Kamwengye, Kasese, Kisoro, Kyenjojo, Kiryandongo
CDP is a multisectoral activity involving several stake holders at National, district and community levels.
The success of the exercise rests on adequate and effective
social mobilization through various community structures including timely delivery of adequate logistics and supplies at all levels and utilization of the services by community members.
As an important stake holder, in promoting child survival interventions and saving lives of Innocent Ugandan children, I request you to support this noble cause and participate in the exercise by passing on this message to all you interact with at the place of work, where you live and where you spend most of the time.
Parents, guardians and care takers you are all urged to mobilize and take the targeted age group children to the appropriate venues to receive the services (Nearest health facility, schools, usual routine immunization outreach posts) from 1st -31st April 2011.
District Health Offi cers, RDCs, C/P local council iv and CAOs, you are also being reminded of yourss roles and responsibilities during the exercise.
Every year since 2004, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with development partners, has conducted “Child Days Plus” bi-annually, as a strategy to speed up and reach more children all over the country with cost effective, high impact interventions for child survival. The ‘Child Days Plus’ involves the administration of regular, one month-long health activities every April and October. This year is no exception, with the April ‘Child Days Plus’ getting under way.
This year, the ‘Child Days Plus’ package includes Vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6-59 months, de-worming for children aged 1-14 years, and catch-up immunisation against a range of childhood illnesses including measles, polio, DPT-hep B-Hib and BCG for children up to 1 year in all districts of Uganda, among other services. Women of child-bearing age, 15-49 years, will also be vaccinated against maternal neonatal tetanus in all districts of the country.
Vitamin A supplementation in Uganda was fi rst combined with measles immunisation for children between 6 months and 5 years of age. The Government of Uganda’s Ministry of Health later decided to expand the programme to happen more often and reach even more children. Vitamin A supplementation then was included in the national immunisation days’ programme and, subsequently, into the ‘Child Days Plus’ package.
Here, children aged 6 months to 5 years are given 4 or 8 drops - depending on the age of the child
and the strength of the capsule - of Vitamin A from either a red, blue or golden capsule to help boost their immunity against fatal diseases such as measles and diarrhoea, and to improve their eyesight.
Mariam Okello, a 35-year old mother from Agwata Sub-County, Dokolo District, says she had resolved to take her 9 months’ old son for Vitamin A supplementation after she heard that it would help keep her baby healthy and free from illness. “I was told that my baby will be given a food supplement to keep him from falling sick easily,”
Okello said. She learnt that the child would be given drops of Vitamin A from a red, blue or golden capsule to boost his immunity against fatal illnesses. “I am determined to bring my son to the health post again and again whenever such programmes are announced at our local place of worship, the mother added.”
In developing countries, such as Uganda, where Vitamin A is largely consumed in the form of fruits and vegetables, it is often not taken in suffi cient quantities, a situation that is critical in the case of children.
In Uganda, nearly 3 out of 10 children under fi ve years of age have Vitamin A defi ciency, according to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey of 2001. Nutiritionists hope this fi gure will show an improvement when the 2011 Demographic Health Survey results are released later this year. Children with Vitamin A defi ciency suffer devastating consequences, including low immunity and increased risk of dying from illnesses such as measles, diarrhoea, and malaria. Vitamin A defi ciency is also responsible for poor eye health, and is the leading cause
of preventable childhood blindness.
“Lack of Vitamin A makes children especially vulnerable because without it, their immune systems are greatly weakened,” says Dr. Sharad Sapra, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Uganda, in a statement to coincide with the start of the April ‘Child Days Plus’. “Children, particularly those under 5 years, need more Vitamin
A as they grow or when they succumb to periods of illness or infection. Fortunately, a few drops of the Vitamin A nutritional supplement can save their lives,” Dr. Sapra adds.
UNICEF provides funds, technical support and supplies to support implementation of the “Child Days Plus” programme. This year, the UN children’s agency has contributed an estimated USD 200,000.00 to ensure that over 6.1 million children throughout Uganda are reached with lifesaving Vitamin A supplementation.
MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Providing life-saving Vitamin A for children under 5
Naru and Nangiro are 6 months’ old twin sisters who were brought to one of the Health Centres in Moroto, in the Karamoja region, by their caring mum, Aleper, to get their third dose of immunisation. The children were enrolled for immunisation soon after they were born.
From the very beginning, the health centre’s nurses sensitised Aleper, the babies’ mother, about the importance of immunisation, and explained to her the possible consequences of not immunizing them before they turned one year old. Such consequences included poor mental and physical growth, as well as the risk of contracting fatal diseases that could cause her children to die. Aleper was also told about the risks associated with failure to complete her children’s routine immunisation schedule..
“Early protection is critical. The immunisations in the child’s fi rst and
second years are especially important,” said Ms. Solome Amoding, a registered midwife working at the health centre. “Also, every child should complete the entire series of immunisations to ensure effective and full protection.” She also added that vaccines are most effective when given at the recommended ages, or as close to those ages as possible.
Naru and Nangiro were immunised for the fi rst time against Polio when they were 1 month old, and returned to the health centre 1 month later to receive the fi rst dose of Diphteria, Pertussis and Tetanus, or DPT-hepB-Hib, a combination of vaccines which should be re-injected every 4 weeks for a total of 3 doses. Additionally, at the age of 9 months, Naru and Nangiro will receive the measles vaccine.
“Many parents do not take their children for immunisation because they may have a fever, cough, cold, diarrhoea or some other illness,” said Ms. Amoding. “Yet, it is safe to immunise a child who has a minor illness, a disability or is malnourished.” Indeed, every year, worldwide, over 1.4 million children die from diseases that are preventable with readily available safe vaccines. In Uganda, the number of children getting fully immunised is actually decreasing, hence the justifi ed need for the “Child Days Plus” strategy
as a major initiative by the Government of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, UNICEF and partners to strengthen child survival in the country.
Aleper understood the fundamental importance of immunising her twin daughters, Naru and Nangiro, and has subsequently allowed them to benefi t from the “Child Days Plus” programme at the health centre, thereby preventing them from developing life-threatening diseases and keeping
them healthy.
Child Days Plus - boosting immunisation & child survival
CHILD DAYS PLUS - APRIL 2011
Interventions happening across Uganda:
• Vitamin A supplementation for children aged from 6 months up to 5 years (59 months).
• De-worming of children aged between 1 and 14 years.
• Catch up immunization with vaccines against measles, polio, DPT-hepB-Hib (Diphteria, Pertussis, Tetanus), Hepatitis B, Infl uenza type B and Tuberculosis up to 1 year.
• Maternal Neonatal Tetanus immunization of girls and women of child bearing aged of 15 to 49 years.
• Early infant HIV/AIDS diagnosis for children aged from 6 weeks up to 18 months.
• Promotion of healthy behaviours such as breast-feeding, sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net, good hygiene and sanitation practices.
Interventions happening in specifi c districts:• Eye screening for children
aged between 0 and 15 years (in 13 districts of Busoga and Bunyoro regions). • Mass treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) (in select districts of Northern, Eastern, Western and Central regions).Child Days Plus interventions will be held at your local Health Centre.
Let your child benefi t from these life-saving interventions.
CHILD DAYS PLUS 8 key interventions to look out for
ssible
e
es nd g d
them healthy.
Today, over 520 children under the age of fi ve will die in Uganda. Tomorrow, the same number of children will die, and the next day, and the next. More than half of Ugandan children dying each day are under the age of one. With nearly 190,000 children lost annually, this alone ranks Uganda among the 20 countries in the world with the highest number of deaths of children under fi ve years old.
If this doesn’t shock you, then this will: These deaths are largely preventable. Through simple interventions like vitamin A supplementation, de-worming and immunizations against a range of childhood illnesses, many babies will no longer have to die unnecessarily.
These interventions are available and accessible, especially this month. Beginning now, “Child Days Plus” will take place throughout Uganda during the month of April. The UN in Uganda collaborates with the Government of Uganda (Ministry of Health) to support the “Child Days Plus” programme.
“Child Days Plus” offer mothers and children an integrated package of high impact interventions that boost
immunization rates and promote child and maternal health.
They also offer mothers advice on healthy behaviours, such as the importance of breastfeeding and sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net. Promotion of hygiene and sanitation is also part of the package.
This month’s “Child Days Plus” package is especially important because the number of children who are getting fully immunized in Uganda has actually decreased. For example in 2005, 91% of children at the age of 1 year were immunized against measles. In 2010 that fi gure was 72%. The same pattern is evident in DPT-hepB-Hib, is a combination of vaccines against three infectious diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.
I would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to appeal to all mothers, all fathers and all community members to take their children to get immunized and receive other essential preventive and life-saving services such as Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming treatment. Take advantage of the
services that are being offered to you and your families. The immunizations are safe and easily administered. “Child Days Plus” will be held at your local health centre, at schools and at routine immunization outreach posts. Visit one of these places and ask a health worker for more information. Uganda’s children are precious and irreplaceable, let us do whatever we can to ensure that they grow up healthy so that they can lead productive lives that contribute to the future of this beautiful nation.
Child Days Plus – A Healthy Child, A Happy Family
Theophane NikyemaUN Resident Coordinator
for Uganda /UNDP Resident Representative
Preventing Malaria through Child Days PlusIf you walked into a health centre in any rural or hard-to-reach area where poverty is rampant, chances are that about 6 out every 10 admissions you will fi nd will be attributed to malaria.
It is reported that malaria accounts for 20 to 40 percent of all outpatient visits at most health units, 15 to 20 percent of all admissions and 9 to 14 percent of all deaths.Bundibugyo is a hard-to-reach district, which registers frequent malaria epidemics. Moreover, health experts say malaria is a principal contributor to infant mortality mainly due to low birth weight, and that complicated malaria in children can kill within 24 hours. It is also responsible for nearly 60 percent of miscarriages among women. “Pregnant women are more likely to suffer malaria attacks than those who are not pregnant,” says Dr. Fred Kagwire, UNICEF Programme Offi cer for the Western Region. Dr. Kagwire also adds that this year, UNICEF through the Integrated Community Case Management Programme is expanding and improving diagnosis and treatment in the case management of the top three killers of children under fi ve – malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea – within the communities themselves to prevent needless deaths.Malaria not only affects the health of children, but also impacts on their education negatively. When children get malaria, they lose up to 6 school days in that period to
the illness. The loss becomes even clearer if we consider that there are over 6 million children in primary school alone. It may also impair as much as 60 percent of the school children’s learning ability.
Malaria also directly affects family incomes. Maria Gorrett Kisembo, a mother of six children from Bugando sub-county, Bundibugyo district, says malaria is also very costly to treat. “When the children fall sick with malaria, we end up spending all the money we have, and nothing is left to cater for other necessities,” Kisembo says.
With the introduction of the Child Health Days Plus initiative, a national programme run by the Ministry of Health and supported by UNICEF and other partners to accelerate the promotion of key family health care practices, it is possible for children and
women living in hard-to-reach areas such as Bundibugyo to receive free health interventions and services. These include nutrition education, promotion of breastfeeding, proper hygiene and sanitation practices, as well as the use of long lasting insecticide-treated nets.
Back in Ntotoro sub-county, Bundibugyo District, UNICEF has provided long lasting insecticide-treated nets targeting 2,223 households in 15 villages through various child days plus outreaches.
“I am happy to receive these nets, and I will make sure that everybody in our house uses them so that we don’t suffer from malaria again,” says Josephine Nanjala soon after receiving 3 mosquito nets.
at a glance
Dr. Stephen MalingaMinister of Health
