INTRODUCTION PHASE
IMCI strategy formally endorsed by the Minister of Health and Population and National IMCI Task Force established with national IMCI coordinator appointed	2000
National IMCI Orientation Meeting and Preliminary Planning Workshop conducted	October 2000
EARLY IMPLEMENTATION PHASE 2005
National IMCI planning and adaptation workshop	May 2003
Adaptation of IMCI clinical guidelines and materials completed	January 2005
First 11-day IMCI case management course at central level for doctors conducted	February - March 2005

IMCI clinical training

•  Course duration

•  Materials

Course duration

11-day course

Materials

Physicians: adapted IMCI training materials for standard IMCI course  based on the Saudi-adapted version of the IMCI guidelines.

Systematic approach to IMCI implementation at district level: key steps and tools

1. Selection of regions for IMCI early implementation

2. Creating a pool of facilitators

1.     Selection of regions for IMCI early implementation

Criteria have been used to select areas for the Early Implementation Phase, based on the rationale to provide initial evidence on IMCI in areas with adequate support to implementation:

1. Leadership and motivation of staff at different levels

2. Easy accessibility to the national team

3. Districts with manageable number of health facilities to be covered and followed up during this phase

Four Regions were selected for the early implementation phase: Al Madinah, Meccah, Riyad, Hafr Al Baten.

2.   Creating a pool for facilitators

11 facilitators were trained at national level. Top