New Approach Improves Quality of Care for Children in Rwanda

By Alice Rwema Iribagiza, Communications Officer, Ingobyi Nurse Esther at work. Photo credit: IntraHealth International.November 12, 2019Esther Mukahabiyambere is one of 326 district-based mentors trained on the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) approach. Through the USAID-fundedIngobyi Activity, health workers are using IMCI in Rwanda to prevent and treat pneumonia, diarrhea, malnutrition, and malaria. The project equips health care providers with clinical knowledge, skills, and attitudes to improve the quality of care, helping the government of Rwanda reduce child mortality, particularly the management of severe pneumonia, which accounts for 15% of deaths among children under five each year.Esther works at the Gihara Health Center but provides mentorship on a regular basis to health providers in two other health centers. Since she began her training and deployment as a mentor, Esther has acquired new skills that have improved the quality care she provides her clients, particularly children. The number of children with severe pneumonia cases has decreased by more than 50%.“Before the Ingobyi mentorship program began, I was not able to identify warning signs in a child, like knowing if s/he has pneumonia symptoms or not,” Esther says.“But now I can conduct a detailed assessment of malnutrition and pneumonia cases and complete forms appropriately.”Esther recalls a time before the mentorship program when she referred a baby wit...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Maternal, Newborn, & Child Health Education Performance Quality of Care Nurses Source Type: news