Doctors for Children International (DFCI) Online

COMMUNITY BASED CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMME

The Organization involves the community in providing good health care for themselves and especially their children through participatory learning and action (PLA). We organize local health team with selected members of the community and members of our organization as members. The Organization then identifies the basic health needs of the community and then through the Health team, tries to provide this health needs. By doing this, the community participates actively in providing themselves and their children. with adequate health services. The Organization is also involved in the training of some selected members of the community in basic children first aid procedures, who will then teach the general community these procedures which can be performed at home before medical help is sought. The Organization organizes lectures for the local communities on the importance of the health of their children. Presently, Doctors for Children International (DFCI) has collaborated with an empowerment based program called 8dollar.com to empower the parents of the children in the rural, suburban areas as well as less privileged children, so as to enable them secure the future of these children This empowerment program is fully supported by Etisalat, the telecommunication giant.

MOBILE CLINICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDHOOD DISEASES

The Organization runs a children's clinic in these communities. This clinic comprises of free consultation and diagnosis, bedside (emergency) laboratory procedures and treatment. For cases which will require continuous treatment, drugs will be provided to the public health workers in such areas who will oversee the administration. Also, for cases that may require surgery or hospital admission, we refer to nearby tertiary hospitals and the organization monitors such treatments. We co-opt the services of specialist consultants for the management of specialist cases.

ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION

The process of routine immunization in this country has reduced considerably as a result of the publicized National Immunization days. As such, parents just wait for such days before their children are immunized.

However, we educate the people in these areas on the importance of routine immunization in collaboration with National Programme on Immunization. We print child immunization charts, which we provide for every child in the community. We also administer some of the vaccines in the course of our work.

DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS AND PUBLICATION

We produce materials which we use as training manuals, counseling charts, posters, handbills and handbooks in both English and local languages. Adverts are also done on both the electronic and print media and on billboards. The public relations department is the organization also produces formal publications such as, bulletins and newsletters, which are regularly updated. Souvenirs such as, T-shirts, caps, pencils, exercise books and badges are also shared amongst the children and their parents in the rural areas.

HIV/AIDS CAMPAIGN & COUNSELLING

Our Organization is involved in the campaign against HIV/AIDS with emphasis on Mother to Child transmission through the print and electronic media, posters, handbills and billboards. We also organize seminars and lectures for women on how to prevent HIV infection. The promotion of the adoption of dual protection in other to reduce the exposure of mothers to HIV/AIDS is one of activities.

Counseling clinics are also organized for children who are infected by the virus, whose parents are infected and those whose parents have died from HIV/AIDS to reduce the effect of social stigmatization attached to HIV/AIDS infection in this country.

TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Doctors for children international have developed a training program for the community health works in the rural area to help them develop unique competencies.

In the management of childhood diseases. Professionals who are involved in child health care provision and delivery are invited to lecture these community health workers on the diagnosis and management of childhood diseases with a community based curriculum developed by health professionals. Our courses include. management skills, supervisory skills, training of trainers and health clinical service provision.

ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEER SERVICES

Considering the work involved in this project, the organization involves the services of volunteers. We recruit volunteers as Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses, Laboratory Scientists, Administrative personnel and other individuals who are relevant to the organization's activities to enable us provide adequate services throughout the country. We also employ the services of NYSC corps members as volunteers of the project By doing this, we aim at encouraging and sensitizing the Nigerian populace on volunteer services.

ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIALIST CHILDREN HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE CENTRES

The Organization will establish a specialist children's hospital in each of the six geo- political zones, which will be built and equipped through local fund raising and grants. Children shall be treated free or at very minimal cost in these hospitals.

We will also set-up health care centers in the rural areas which will be managed by community health workers with a visiting doctor. Treatment of children and provision of drugs will be free or at very minimal cost.