The Ministry of Health has launched a new child health record for children between 0-5 years .
Children born in December 2011 and thereafter will be required to use the new record, while others born from 2007 to December 2011 will receive a new growth chart.
In keeping with the World Health Organization’s new International Standard for Child Growth, these new records are intended to describe how a child grew at a particular time and place and to ndicate standards as to how the child should grow.
The new growth curves for infants are expected to “provide a single international standard that represents the best description of physiological growth for all children from birth to five years (and to establish the breastfed infant as the normative model for growth and development.”
It is hoped that by 2015, the old health passports, which have been used for the past few decades, will be phased out.
Nutritionist Marynese Titre says the new child health record is an improvement to child development monitoring.
The current health passport only monitors the nutritional standing and growth of children using their weight and age.
However, according to Titre, the new records present recommendations for feeding, the immunization schedule, developmental screening checklist, early stimulation activities for children and the growth chart.
She said that information will be collected on the child and mother after birth.
The child’s diet, dental history, illnesses, allergies, injuries and growth patterns will also be featured on these records.
To facilitate the implementation of this new system, a number of health care providers have been trained. A pilot phase of the project was also convened in the Roseau and La Plaine health districts in 2009.
Addressing the launch of the new child health record on Friday, Minister for Health Julius Timothy said it was another another milestone for Dominica’s health care.
“The maternal and child health program is an essential component of the primary health care system in which mothers and children are provided with anti natal and post natal care.” Timothy stated.
“Considering that children 0-5 years are a vulnerable group in any population, it is the responsibility of government to ensure that all the necessary services are available, which will enable the children to obtain optimum growth and development,” he stressed.
.
I have a question: I am a doing a research paper on Dominica and its Child Health Progression and overall condition. I wanted to know (as this is January of 2012) has there been any more recent development or even decline in this process and how has it worked? I would love to get some more information, but otherwise, this is a great plan for Dominica!
great job you guys.
Bravo, my people all you doing good things. I always welcome progressiveness in my country.
Now I want to hear about the plans for the new state of the art hospital.