SEYCHELLES
CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMME
Health
Surveillance
The
principle is to detect early disease, disability or developmental delay in
children and malfunction in the family.
Where there are concerns raised about a child’s
growth, development or health status, either by the parent or health
worker the child is referred appropriately to a person with expertise in
that area.
Health
Education/Promotion
This
is done through group or individual teaching and advice depending upon the
need of the individual. Support and teaching on basic elements of child
care includes parenting skills, hygiene and nutrition to help parents
understand their children and their needs.
The aim is to bring about positive health practicing behaviours and
the avoidance of negative ones.
Home
Visiting
Home
visit aims at looking at families within the context of a group who should
have collective care. This activity aims at providing regular health surveillance
for all mothers and their new-born infants.
During home visits, defaulters are traced and all risky cases are
managed accordingly.
Immunization
Immunization
provides protection against certain vaccine preventable diseases that have
in the past been major causes of sickness, impairment and death in
children.
Vaccines
are the most effective way of preventing diseases and thus improving the
health of children in Seychelles.
Immunization
Schedule
In Seychelles immunization schedule is as follows:
Vaccine
Age
administered
BCG (against tuberculosis)
At birth
6years
Diphtheria, Pertusis (whooping cough) and tetanus
(Combined vaccine)
3, 4, 5, 18 months
Poliomyelitis
3, 4, 5, 18 months
6, and 15years
Hepatitis B
3, 4, 9 months
Diphtheria and tetanus
6 years
Yellow Fever
1 year
Mumps, Measles and Rubella (combined vaccine)
6 years
Tetanus
15 years
Developmental
Assessment
This
includes growth monitoring and hearing assessment.
The Denver Development Screening Test (DDST) and other physical
assessment are administered on children 7 times during the first 5 years
of the Child’s life (6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4
years, 5 years). During the
development assessment anticipatory guidance is given to parents to help
them optimize their children’s development.
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