We here at DataDyne are excited to be teaming up with our Peruvian partners to use MIP technology to support their ongoing efforts to protect the health of children in Peru.

Birth to 5 years is a critical window of time in a young child’s life. The World Health Organization has long advocated a holistic approach to preventing and treating childhood illness in the developing world called the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI). IMCI aims to reduce death, illness and disability, and to promote improved growth and development among children by including both preventive and curative elements that are implemented by families and communities as well as by health facilities.

The strategy includes three main components:
* Improving case management skills of health-care staff
* Improving overall health systems
* Improving family and community health practices.

In Peru, for every 1,000 children born, 20 will die before they reach the age of 5. Through the remarkable efforts of the health community, this number continues to decline. The Ministry of Health in Peru, supported in large part by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/OPS) has worked hard to implement ICMI strategies across the country.

Beginning in March 2010, PAHO/OPS will use MIP technology to send text messages to nurses and community health workers. The text messages will reinforce key elements of the ICMI curriculum. Using a series of quizzes and follow-up tests, we will be able to determine if the reinforcement texts help health professionals retain the information, with the hope that better informed care-givers will lead to better health outcomes for kids.

Keep an eye out here and here for updates.