The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) is a strategy implemented in many low- and middle-income countries to improve the quality of care offered to sick children under 5, thereby improving the under-5 mortality rates in these countries. South Africa adopted the IMCI strategy in 1998. It has been adapted for the South African population and is widely used in primary health care settings across the country.

This course serves to optimise and standardise IMCI training for all health workers involved in the management of sick children.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the three components of the IMCI strategy.
2. Understand and apply the principles that IMCI uses to provide healthcare to sick children.
3. Improve confidence and accuracy of the assessment and management of common childhood illnesses in primary care settings.
4. Learn to counsel caregivers on identifying signs of severe illness and on home management of their child’s illness.
5. Understand the elements of promotive care that are integrated into the IMCI consultation.

This training is designed for pre-service (undergraduate) and in-service training of nursing and medical students, nurses, doctors as well as therapists and pharmacists with an interest in the management of sick children.

This course can be used as a stand-alone, providing theoretical basis and video application of the knowledge and skills required to provide appropriate health care to sick children under 5. It should ideally be complemented by practical IMCI training, facilitated by an in-person trainer.