ICROSS comprehensive primary health Kenya

ICROSS PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AFRICA

ICROSS extends primary health care programmes. For 30 years, the emphasis of ICROSS primary care has been improving immunisation, creating support mechanisms for public health and community medicine and establishing innovations in disease control, reproductive health and nutrition. In 1981 the founder Dr Michael Meegan launched his first disease control programme. This focused on disease supplements that would benefit children under five and women in the post natal stage.

Immunisation programmes have since the beginning of our programmes reached 14 districts and in all of our operational clinical services, we are immunising 90% of children between 9 months and 4 years old. Every ICROSS clinic and programme is based upon community responsibility and ownership in managing their primary healthcare/public health programme. ICROSS has greatly expanded the concept of primary health care. It includes social equity, reproductive health responsibility and safe sex. The rights of women to choose comprehensive child survival and focused safe motherhood. The centre of our primary health care programme‘s measurable impact in maternal and child health.

When Prof David Morley began working with ICROSS in 1981, he introduced the fundamental concept of children teaching children basic health promotion. A critical component of the success was the fact that the communities owned the decision making and the health prioritisation. Today (20th April 2011), we are extending the work created by Prof David Morley and building new diarrhoea control, neonatal tetanus and neonatal control. The success of reproductive health interventions have resulted in a dramatic decrease in maternal morbidity, mortality and suffering. We remain committed to the long term reduction in neonatal tetanus, malaria, trachoma, sexually transmitted infection, tropical dermatitis, water borne diseases and all preventable diseases cause by injustice, poverty and hunger.

Dr Michael Meegan met today with Ministry of Health nurses working in ICROSS programmes to discuss strategies for improvements in ICROSS long term disease prevention and public health activities. In partnership with the govt of Kenya and working within the UN, UNICEF, and WHO frameworks, ICROSS is building long term strategic policies for and with communities that will determine the long term focus of our maternal child health care for the next decade