Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Training Empowers Nurses in Bushbuckridge

In rural communities like Bushbuckridge, where many families rely on local clinics as their first point of care, nurses play a vital role in supporting child health and survival. The Department of Health continues to invest in the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy to strengthen primary health care. IMCI equips nurses with a structured approach to assess and manage the most common illnesses affecting children under five, improving early detection, treatment, and referral.

Why IMCI Matters

IMCI gives the health professionals and nurses updated information around recent or ever changing childhood illness. It enables nurses to assess children holistically rather than treating single symptoms in isolation. For example, a child presenting with fever, cough, and diarrhoea is evaluated comprehensively, considering underlying causes, danger signs, and age-appropriate treatment protocols. This approach is especially important in Bushbuckridge, where malnutrition, respiratory infections, HIV, and limited access to tertiary care overlap. By reinforcing structured assessment and treatment plans, IMCI helps nurses make faster, better-informed decisions that reduce child mortality and improve developmental outcomes.

What the Training Entails

The 10-days IMCI training combines theory and practical skills. Nurses learn to:

• Identify danger signs in children under five, such as lethargy or convulsions
• Classify illnesses using a colour-coded system that prioritises treatment urgency
• Treat common conditions like pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea, ear infections, and malnutrition according to national guidelines
• Use growth monitoring charts and review immunisation status
• Advise caregivers on home care, nutrition, immunisation, and follow-up care

The training emphasizes holistic decision-making, encouraging nurses to consider the child’s overall health status and strengthen links between clinics and homes.

Impact in Bushbuckridge

Bushbuckridge faces systemic health challenges, but by training local nurses, many from to their communities, the IMCI programme supports a decentralised, community-based model of care. This model enables early detection and intervention, reducing preventable deaths and the long-term effects of poor early childhood health. In areas where resources are limited and distances to hospitals are significant, a well-trained nurse can make a critical difference. IMCI also fosters stronger communication between nurses and caregivers, essential for ongoing care at home.

“IMCI is an excellent training program that I believe should be continuously rolled out, especially here in Bushbuckridge. When we first began, we discovered that many professional nurses working with young children had not yet received IMCI training. On a personal note, as a new mom, I’ve been taking my son to the same clinic for his immunizations. One morning, he developed a very high fever, and I rushed him to the clinic. He was attended to by a nurse who had recently completed her IMCI training. I spent about two hours there while she carefully assessed and monitored him. Later that day, I decided to seek a second opinion from a local general practitioner who is well known for working with children. He was thoroughly impressed by the nurse’s detailed notes and accurate diagnosis. So much so, that he even called the clinic doctor to commend them on the excellent care provided.” - Nondumiso Chibi, ECD Facilitator, LIMA Development

Thabile Nkuna, one of the facilitators for the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program, shared that the training has made a meaningful difference in how services are delivered to young children. She emphasized that the improvements are noticeable and she further highlighted the importance of equipping all professionals who work with young children with IMCI training, to ensure they are better prepared to support children's health and well-being.

Building Frontline Capacity

By the end of Quarter 3, 2025, two IMCI training sessions in Bushbuckridge trained 52 nurses; 25 in Quarter 1 and 27 in Quarter 3 this is surpassing the Department’s annual target ahead of schedule. These sessions strengthen local clinics’ capacity to deliver consistent, high-quality care for young children throughout the municipality.

While IMCI is not new, ongoing training remains essential to upskill new staff and update experienced nurses on national protocols. As child health needs evolve, this continuous capacity building ensures early diagnosis and treatment, especially where delays in care could be fatal.

As part of a broader system to improve child health outcomes, IMCI remains a practical and effective tool. The Department of Health’s ongoing investment in Bushbuckridge reflects its commitment to early intervention, prevention, and consistent care for young children.