Despite a reduction in under-5 mortality worldwide and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, a substantial number of children die because they do not have access to simple life-saving interventions. Families and communities are on the front line of care for their children. However, to play this role effectively, families need support, knowledge and skills to provide essential care for babies and young children.

To address this need, WHO and UNICEF have developed a standard package for community care of newborns and children. Evidence has shown that interventions delivered by community health workers to pregnant women, newborn babies and children under 5 can contribute significantly to reducing neonatal and under-5 mortality.

The WHO-UNICEF package for community care includes:

• Caring for the newborn at home
• Caring for a child's healthy growth and development
• Caring for the sick child in the community.

In the Region, the package for the “sick child” has been adapted and used in number of countries while many other interventions have been adopted and implemented as an integral part of the IMCI community component.

Related link

Caring for the sick child in the community