Children are especially vulnerable to illness and death. The World Health Organization estimates that in 2016, about 5.6 million children died before reaching the age of 5. A concerted international effort is needed to improve antenatal and postnatal strategies that both prevent illness and promote health. The pediatrics focus area of CIHLMU is premised on the idea that major improvements in children’s health can be achieved by effectively training and educating relevant health professionals.
Many activities of the pediatrics focus area CIHLMU are concentrated in Mozambique. It has a close partnership with the Universidade Católica de Mozambique (UCM), where it is involved in increasing the use of sonography. Sonography is a medical imaging technique that plays a key role in teaching, understanding and visualizing medical problems and diagnostic challenges. Since it is not commonly used in Mozambique, the available training opportunities are limited. In response to this need, CIHLMU funded the acquisition of an ultrasound machine at UCM and has developed trainings for their proper use. It also supports a teaching course at the Central Hospital of Beira which focuses on bedside manner – namely proper examination and diagnostic techniques – in the neonatal and general pediatric wards. Experts from the Children’s Hospital in Munich (Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital) along with cooperating colleagues from gynecology/ obstetrics and internal medicine, contribute to these trainings during their regular visits. These trainings are proliferative, with experts teaching health professionals who in turn become experts and trainers.
CIHLMU is also involved in the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) One World Project. FASD is caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and can cause congenital malformations and cognitive and behavioral disabilities that will affect children for the rest of their lives. In response, this project aims to educate mothers about the possible harms of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in high risk families living in slums, while educating health professionals on diagnostic techniques. This project, along with the other activities of this focus area, facilitate an international exchange of knowledge and education with the overriding goal of improving children’s health.
