The Integrated Management of Childhood Health (IMCI) is a WHO/UNICEF global initiative introduced in the Region in 1996 to reduce under-5 mortality, morbidity and disability, and improve child growth and development. The initiative challenges the traditional disease-specific approach to illness by adopting a more holistic approach to child health, including prevention and cure. IMCI emphasizes preventing disease through immunization and improved nutrition.

It includes three main components:

• Improving health workers' skills – mostly refers to clinical and communication skills and covers both pre-service education and in-service training, public and private sector.
• Improving overall health systems – to deliver IMCI concerns policy, planning and management, financing, organization of work and distribution of tasks at health facilities, human resources, availability of medicines and supplies, referral, monitoring and health information system, supervision, evaluation and research.
• Improving family and community health practices – currently refers to 12 key family and community practices related to child health and development that, if properly promoted and adopted by the targeted communities, would potentially contribute to improving child survival, growth and development.

Related links

Integrated management of childhood illness: management of the sick young infant aged up to 2 months: IMCI chart booklet

Integrated management of childhood illness: management of the sick young infant age up to 2 months: facilitator guide

Map of IMCI implementation

IMCI chart booklet  

Technical updates of the IMCI guidelines – Evidence and recommendations for further adaptations (2005)

IMCI adaptation guide

Health knocking at the door 

Egypt IMCI experience: a systematic approach for implementation