Save the Children, in collaboration with Management Information Systems (MIS) and the National Newborn Health Program (NNHP), has developed the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) application to enhance children’s healthcare.

IMCI is a WHO and UNICEF protocol to reduce child mortality, morbidity, and disability by training health workers, improving health systems, and promoting community health practices. IMCI was adopted in 1998 in Bangladesh to address the high rates of childhood morbidity and mortality caused by common and preventable illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles, and malnutrition. This tool aims to enhance the assessment, classification, and referral/treatment process for children aged 0-5 years.

This tool can improve the quality of care provided to children under five by training health workers, enhancing healthcare infrastructure, and promoting community health practices. By integrating preventive and curative measures, IMCI sought to reduce the burden of disease, promote healthy growth and development, and ensure equitable access to essential health services for all children, especially those in underserved areas. The IMCI protocol was implemented manually using paper-based registers, which was both costly and time-consuming for health workers. Save the Children’s initiative to digitize the process has significantly reduced the time required for assessments and streamlined operations, making the system more efficient and accessible for healthcare providers. Once fully implemented nationwide, this initiative will contribute to the digitization of the entire health system, enhancing efficiency and accessibility across the country.

This innovative app has been integrated into three national health platforms - DHIS2, OpenSRP, and OpenMRS. Following validation training and field testing in Barishal, Bhola, and Manikganj, a dissemination event was held on 5 November 2024 to chart the path forward. The aim is now to pilot the app and conduct the implementation research to ensure better healthcare for children across Bangladesh.