Nicaragua

Current Projects

Integrated Management of Childhood Illness

To reduce the high number of child deaths in Nicaragua, the American Red Cross is working together with the Nicaraguan Red Cross, the Pan American Health Organization, the Ministry of Health and other groups through the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy. IMCI aims to reduce child mortality from the five illnesses that account for the majority of childhood deaths in the developing world. These ailments include diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, measles, malaria, and malnutrition. Community health volunteers are trained to prevent, recognize and treat the five deadly childhood illnesses. Teaching the 16 Key Family Practices is fundamental to IMCI. Once trained in IMCI, health educators teach caregivers and parents to recognize the danger signs of these diseases, encouraging referral to health facilities when needed.

Past Projects

Central American Mitigation Initiative (February 2001 - May 2003)

Organizational Development and Capacity Building for the Nicaraguan Red Cross Society (May 1999 – December 2002)

Maternal and Child Health Project (May 199 – December 2002)

Community Disaster Preparedness and Training (May 1999 – December 2001)

Post-Hurricane Water and Sanitation Systems Rehabilitation (May 1999 – August 2001)

To read more about American Red Cross relief efforts in Nicaragua, go to:

The Children We Help: Central America

A Different Kind of Disaster: Demining in Nicaragua

The Wait Begins... Hurricane Preparedness In The Caribbean

Red Cross Water Saves Lives Worldwide

The Harvest After