NABOCADO Trains Health Workers in IMNCI to Strengthen Child Health in Refugee Host Communities, Upper East Region
Dr. Gillian Bogee demonstrates newborn care techniques during the IMCI training.
The Health Programmes Directorate of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese Organization (NABOCADO) has concluded a three-day intensive training in Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) for Midwives and Community Health Nurses/Officers serving seven Burkinabe refugee host communities in Ghana’s Upper East Region.
The training was facilitated by Dr. Gillian Bogee, Newborn Care Focal Person for the Upper East Region and Emmanuel Zyaaba, a Pediatric Nurse Specialist at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Upper East Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga. It was designed to sharpen the competencies of frontline health workers in identifying, managing and preventing the leading causes of illness and death among children under five, equipping participants with practical, up-to-date guidance on the prompt detection and effective management of childhood diseases.
Participants practice newborn nursing techniques.
A participant demonstrates care techniques using a training dummy.
The exercise forms part of the Collaborative Child Health Initiative for Life-saving and Development (CHILD) Project, which aims to reduce the incidence of childhood illness (pneumonia, diarrhoea, anaemia, and malaria) among children under five within the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese. The project also seeks to strengthen support services for child health and nutrition across the Bawku West, Binduri and Nabdam Districts.
Funding for the initiative is provided by Kindermissionswerk of Germany, with interventions targeting children under five and their caregivers in the refugee host communities.
“IMCI is essential for equipping health professionals with the skills needed to manage childhood illnesses in under-resourced settings and prevent life-threatening complications among children under five.”
— Sebastian Tule, Health Programmes Coordinator, NABOCADO
Sebastian Tule, Health Programmes Coordinator, addresses participants at the opening session of the training.
Speaking at the opening session on behalf of NABOCADO’s Executive Director, Dr. Joseph Bangu, Health Programmes Coordinator Sebastian Tule underscored the critical role of IMCI in frontline healthcare delivery.
The Bawku West District Director of Health Services, in a welcome address to participants and the training team, urged all in attendance to approach the exercise with the seriousness it deserved, stressing that their commitment would have a direct bearing on health outcomes in the communities they serve.
“Take this training seriously and build your capacities. Your active participation will help the project succeed and significantly improve health delivery for all of us.”
— Bawku West District Director of Health Services
Participants engage in hands-on IMCI activities during the training.
Health workers exchange insights during group discussions.
Participants welcomed the training warmly, expressing confidence that the practical knowledge acquired would meaningfully strengthen the quality of child healthcare services delivered at the community level.
NABOCADO expressed appreciation to the facilitators, participants, partners and supporters whose dedication continues to drive efforts to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of children across the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese.