KAYONZA - A community based health programme meant to boost the control and treatment of child illness was yesterday launched in Kayonza district.

The health programme dubbed Integrated Management of Child Illness (IMCI) was launched by area health officials and will be implemented by the existing community health workers.

Speaking at the launch, the officer in charge of health in Kayonza district Denise Uwera, said that the new program was initially introduced in Rwinkwavu, but is intended to cover other sectors of the district.

She said the programme targets control of diseases like diarrhoea, cough and malaria. The health official explained that the programme will be handled from grassroots level and that it will also involve leaders and parents.

"We have therefore to equip community health workers with relevant skills and knowledge to help treat children. This is the main element of this project,” She said.

"Some parents don’t administer drugs to children according to doctors’ prescription. Drugs are known to be poorly stored in some homes under temperatures that render such prescriptions ineffective,” she noted.

Stressing the importance of disease prevention, Denis Ndangurura, supervisor of community health activities in Rwinkwavu, said that proper guidelines and directives to be followed by officials in charge of health centres have been designed.

"Our health workers will handle various kinds of preventable diseases of children between ages  2-5 years. They will give medical advice to rural communities,” he said.

Dr. Adolphe Karamaga, of Rwinkwavu Hospital, said the new program will reduce the burden and infant mortality rate within society.

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