Topics: Behavior change and communication, Community health workers, Community involvement, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Program design, Program evaluation

Region and Country: Madagascar

This report summarizes six guiding principles and lessons learned that emerged from the work of an MOH/BASICS team developing a community-based IMCI program in Madagascar. The principles elaborated for streamlining community-based programs are: 1. Action-based messages; 2. Easy-to-use front-line teaching tools; 3. Short skill-based trainings; 4. Engaging large numbers of volunteers; 5. Mass media support; and, 6. Celebrating achievement. The report concludes that the Madagascar community communications model “demonstrates that streamlining opens the way for rapid rollout, greater participation and ownership which in turn contributes to improved program impact.”