Infant Health Check in Zambia

Today, we’ll report about infant health check in Zambia.

In Zambia, Health Centers in each community serve as both clinics and health centers.

There, infant health check called “Under5 Clinic” is held once a week― or twice a week if there are a lot of children in the community.

Health Centers also offer outreach for rural areas.

  Busy mothers appreciate the outreach.

They provide babies with so-called “Under5 Card”, or Children’s Clinic Card, blue for boys and pink for girls. These cards are to record information such as weight and immunisation until children reach five years old.

Many of these cards get worn out while used…

Some mothers keep the cards in plastic bags, some just grab them in their hands to come to the health check.

One day, a mother came with a card, a part of which had been torn out.

“What happened?”

“Mice did it! “

That was no joke!

On the other hand, another mother showed such a beautiful hand made cover. It is a great relief also for medical staff to see mothers keep their cards in good condition, as they contain important information.

Under5 Card cover, handmade with love!

A sample of UNDER5 card. Real cards are blue for boys and pink for girls.

At infant health check, they measure children’s weight and height to check their growth.

If a child has lost some weight or the weight growth in recent months is not enough, the staff asks about more details: How has been the child’s condition recently? Is there any problem in breast feeding? What and how much does the child eat? Then the staff give some advice to the mother, and address her with her baby to doctors and nutritionists if necessary.

Smile to children to measure their height. It’s scaring for them...

Scales hung from branches to measure weight.

Other than such individual health check, lectures called “Health Talks” are held to raise awareness about nutrition, and prevention of malaria and diarrhoea.

Today’s Health Talk is about nutrition. The staff shows pictures while lecturing.

Nurses examine each and every card to check children’s growth and immunisation.

In many communities, more than 100 mothers and children come for the Under5 Clinic! Some come to the site two hours ahead of the time. It is such a big event for both mothers and children.

In Zambia, it is largely regarded as only mothers’ responsibility to take care of children. If fathers come to the Under5 Clinic, some staff let them take the health check ahead of others to encourage their participation.

We hope children in Zambia grow fit and healthy, with care of loving mothers, fathers and communities, in the great natural environment,

Covers for Parent & Child Health Handbook in Japan, produced by ZAMMAMA. Approx. 13cm × 17cm with 2 big and 2 small pockets inside.　Contact zammama8102@gmail.com to order and support zambian mothers!