Engagement of traditional healers and impacting on the use of harmful traditional medicine Eastern Sudan - Kassala

Background/Objectives:

The Pneumonia project that commenced in 2017 for 48 months is contributing to the reduction of morbidity and mortality due to Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) among children < 5 years. The programme design emphasises on community engagement, promotion of health seeking behaviour and home care as well as health system strengthening. In order to avoid misunderstanding and mistrust, effective partnerships with traditional practitioners is promoted for successful collaboration with health workers particularly Pneumonia referral and treatment. Additionally, in development and implementation of intervention, data gathered from Formative research revealed interesting enabling factors and barrier to utilization of Pneumonia reduction strategies.

Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:

Social and behavior change communication forms a very interactive process component of the intervention in reaching out to caregivers, community leaders and other stakeholders in promotion of positive behaviours. Targeted community audiences are reached through community radios messages that address knowledge, attitudes, and norms factors promotinge healthy behaviours. Themes include encouraging mothers to continue with breastfeeding sick children, seeking early treatment for ARI, completion of prescribed antibiotics among others. Community leaders are continuously engaged in promotion of supportive collective health objectives such as child vaccination and challenging harmful practices such as feet burning, with hot pieces of iron, and/or bleeding cuts in the forehead and arms. Traditional healers are engaged in a way that encourages not only demand for health services through referrals but as part of the complementary health system. Overall, improved communication between healthcare providers and caretakers and families maximize access to lifesaving health services.  

Results/Lessons Learned:

Through integrated community case management (iCCM) workers at the community level and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) volunteers, basic treatment and associated health messages and hygiene support are availed to the children suffering from ARI and those who require referrals are offered ambulance transport to the hospitals. Lessons learnt include caregivers ability to recognize early signs of Pneumonia but often missing key danger signs like rapid breathing and wheezing noise that may delay care seeking. The program's holistic approach that takes everyone on board and putts families and communities in the center of care of child health can arguably be described as the most appropriate in reducing morbidity and mortality. The localization of IMCI volunteers and iCCM workers ensures that staff turnover is significantly reduced. As well, the community health workers are selected by their communities in a way that places volunteerism above anything else that promotes sustainability.

Discussion/Implications for the Field:

The program approach brings together various components of child health through regular meetings, dedicated steering committee that oversees implementation. Focus is on increased outreach services and home visits by volunteers. The program goals directly support Sustainable Development Goal 3 that pertain to healthy living and promotion of well-being for all at all ages particularly ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. The program's cohesive approach to eliminating preventable pneumonia through advocacy with key players in the health sectors. Promotion of known effective interventions and culturally appropriate measure ultimately contribute to child survival children.

Abstract submitted by:

Alfred Shitemi Lisangari - Red Cross Netherlands
Libertad Gonzalez - Red Cross Netherlands