Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Basic Healthcare Needs of Children

Handout 1 - Module 3 Topic 3

All children have the same healthcare needs.

They need preventative healthcare, including:

 Regular medical check-ups done by a healthcare worker, to monitor whether

they are developing properly (including disabled children or those HIV positive)

 Immunisation against serious diseases

 Insecticide-treated bed nets, or other means, to prevent malaria

 Good nutrition

 Age-appropriate information about preventing HIV infection.

They also need curative healthcare, including:

 The treatment of any illness or disease with appropriate medication

 Extra nutritional intake if they have been ill

 Regular deworming treatment.

In order for these needs to be met, children also need:

• Parents or guardians to understand the importance of preventative healthcare


• Parents or guardians to know where to seek medical help to treat a child’s illness


• Parents or guardians to seek early medical help to treat a child’s illness


• Access to immunisations through clinics or healthcare programmes


• Access to well-baby and well-child check-ups to make sure that the child
  does not have any developing health problems


• Access to clean water and proper sanitation


• Knowledge about basic good hygiene practices


• Access to healthcare workers, clinics and
  medicines when they are ill.

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Appendix 1, Handouts^329