IMCI Benefits

The IMCI strategy:

addresses major child health problems – The strategy systematically addresses the most important causes of childhood death and illness.

responds to demand – Every day millions of parents take their sick children to hospitals and health centers, pharmacists and community health care providers. Three out of four of these children are suffering from at least one of the five conditions that are the focus of IMCI.

promotes prevention as well as cure – In addition to its focus on treatment, IMCI also provides the opportunity for, and emphasizes, important preventive interventions such as immunization and improved infant and child nutrition, including breastfeeding.

Is cost-effective – the World Bank ranked IMCI among the ten most cost-effective interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

promotes cost saving – Inappropriate management of childhood illness wastes scarce resources. Although increased investment will be needed initially for training and reorganization, the IMCI strategy will result in cost savings.

improves equity - Nearly all children in the developed world have ready access to simple and affordable preventive and curative care, which protects them from death as a result of acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, measles, malaria and malnutrition. Millions of children in the developing world, however, do not have access to this same life-saving care. The IMCI strategy addresses this inequity in global health care.