Search Search

From vertical programmes to holistic system: how Oman is improving child health outcomes

Group photo from the national training workshop on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) for doctors and nurses, supported by WHO and the Ministry of Health in Oman.

29 July 2025, Muscat, Oman – Oman has been making advances in childhood health care for more than 20 years, steadily moving from disease-specific vertical programmes to a coordinated, multidisciplinary system. The strategy has led to remarkable progress in child health and offers a model for integrated care.

Oman began implementing the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), in 1999. IMCI is a WHO strategy to reduce child mortality and morbidity by integrating preventive and curative interventions.

By 2000, Oman had established a national IMCI programme and began forming a national committee and multisectoral working groups to implement WHO’s IMCI guidelines tailored to national needs.

The initial phase (1999–2001) involved policy-makers, health workers and educators. Health professionals from nursing, immunization, nutrition and health education collaborated to align efforts to address the health needs of children under 5. As the transition from vertical programmes to an integrated IMCI framework that addresses multiple child health needs gained traction, between 2002 and 2023 task forces and regional committees of health professionals - including paediatricians and family physicians – supported training programmes and developed national guidelines and standardized care protocols to ensure quality across facilities.

By 2009, Oman had embedded IMCI into the curricula of nursing and medical schools, including the College of Health Sciences and Sultan Qaboos University, training health professionals in IMCI and enhancing sustainable capacity. Its IMCI integration into health education provides a replicable model.

The transformation has delivered measurable results. According to WHO data, from 1970 to 2010 under-5 mortality declined from 181 to 11.8 deaths per 1000 live births. By 2020, it had fallen to 9.5 deaths per 1000 live births. Infant mortality fell from 118 to 9.7 per 1000 live births between 1970 and 2010, and to 8.5 by 2020.

Reported cases of diarrhoeal illness among children under 5 decreased by about 25% between 2015 and 2020 (from approximately 85 000 to 63 000). Severe dehydration cases fell by about 25% – from 220 in 2015 to 165 in 2020. Acute respiratory infections (ARI) rates decreased, with severe cases falling from 9.5 per 1000 in 2015 to 3.5 per 1000 in 2020. Deaths attributed to ARI decreased from 30 in 2013 to 10 in 2020. National immunization coverage, supported by a robust vaccine safety monitoring system, was above 98% for all vaccines in 2023. The figures show how Oman’s integrated strategy has enhanced child health through coordinated care and community engagement.

Oman has incorporated IMCI into its Al Shifa electronic health records system, enabling continuous monitoring of maternal and child health, further facilitating coordinated care and supporting family-centred care delivery.

In 2012, Oman’s integrated approach was recognized with a United Nations Public Service Award for promoting gender-responsive public services.

Regular workshops, national conferences and publications disseminate Oman’s IMCI experiences and advance global knowledge sharing. WHO’s continued support, through technical assistance, training and policy guidance, has been key to maintaining progress.

Oman’s IMCI implementation has demonstrably improved child health outcomes and strengthened community health systems. As Oman continues to enhance its IMCI programme, its journey from vertical programmes to integrated clinical services, public health, education and technology provides an exemplary model of how to improve child health outcomes and support sustained health improvement.

Privacy policy

© WHO 2025