Comprehensive quality care for mothers and children
UNICEF works to strengthen capacities by training and educating health professionals
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Challenges
Weaknesses in this area include issues related to the quality of humanized childbirth care and response capacity in obstetric emergencies, as well as to the insufficient availability of MMR vaccines to ensure universal coverage.
In addition, there are weaknesses related to the performance of primary health care professionals in the diagnosis and management of community acquired infections, and the non-compliance with established check-ups, which enable health professionals to monitor the growth and development among children aged one to five.
The knowledge of assessment guidelines for psychomotor development, including neurodevelopment, with an emphasis on early childhood, is equally insufficient.
Strategies
This component, in alliance with other sectors and communities, contributes to strengthening the capacities of health professionals on the humanization of childbirth, the identification of pregnancy risks, prevention and early detection, as well as comprehensive health care for children, focusing on the first 1,000 days of life.
Instruments are applied to evaluate the quality of care and to identify early warning signs of prevalent childhood diseases, as responsible and participatory parenting practices are promoted.
Technical capacities are strengthened in order to improve the performance of primary health care professionals in the diagnosis and management of community acquired infections and the implementation of instruments to enhance the quality of childcare medical consultations, which ensure the compliance of established check-ups and the oversight of growth and development among children aged one to five by health professionals.
Likewise, UNICEF carries out advocacy and Communication for Development actions through the production of original and engaging materials as it conducts intersectoral integration studies through joint work with the education and protection sectors in the early childhood area.