Reviving Hope
Childhood illnesses (malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, and malnutrition) which not only contribute to high morbidity are very common and contribute to high morbidity but mortality as well. In 2023, 23% (Turkana) of children 6-59 months were reported to have been ill within two weeks prior to SMART surveys (UNICEF, SCI, MoH, 2023). A study by UNICEF in the country indicates that, the situation for children dying with minor illnesses remains critical, hence the need for early detection and treatment that worries most mothers in Turkana who live below the poverty line.
The ACCEPT project focus on increasing community access to life-saving interventions and promotes efficiency and cost-effectiveness through delivery of integrated services. Evidence shows that prevention of childhood illnesses, and timely management of child health conditions is more cost-effective than treating recurring episodes of childhood illness. Promotion of recommended practices including early initiation, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, early health seeking behavior and improved health and hygiene practices at household level will contribute to preventing childhood illnesses and malnutrition, Cecilia, a mother of seven, stretched economically. “We really face a lot of challenges because the health facility is far from where I live. Our livelihood sources have been affected and generally to hire a motorbike to rush you to the health facility has been a challenge”, she explains how knowing her Community Health promoter can treat childhood illnesses has been a rocker “my child got sick at night, It began as fever, I tried all the traditional mechanisms ( to see if my child can get well, but all was in vain, I woke up and took the child to the CHP, she welcomed me and she washed her hands and put on gloves.” That one ordinary night, she visited the Community Health Promoter (CHP). She first heard of integrated Community Case management intervention, an innovative solution to timely detection, referral or treatment of sick children. The CHP screened Asibitar instantly and realized that she was suffering from malaria, “It was through the iCCM intervention that Asibitar got treatment from Salome who is my Community Health Promoter.” After the treatment Asibitar recovered.
Like Cecilia, many mothers in Turkana county had lost hope with seeking health services from the nearest heath facilities due to distance. Akatorot Eng’or, a mother of six from Kaalem, also ascertains, “You must believe that this intervention has never been rolled out in the kaalem community unit. This is the first time we are doing this, and I’m proud to have my own CHP being able to treat my child.”
The iCCM approach puts CHPs at the center of treatment and key players, thus enabling early diagnosis and screening to reduce minor illnesses-related mortalities and morbidities at the community level. Turkana Christians Development Mission (TCDM), a local partner working collaboratively with Save the Children, has contributed to building systems and local capacities to support the delivery of integrated health andnutrition services. The project focuses on contributing the reduction of maternal and newborns mortality rates. ACCEPT project has sensitized and trained 212 CHPs on diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses associated with under five children in Two sub-counties (Loima and Turkana North).
