Seminar for health care providers today The UNICEF in association with the Amala Institute of Medical Science will implement a model community action programme at Adattu panchayat in the district to improve child health. Millions of children die from preventable causes before reaching their fifth birthday, many of them during the first year of life, according to health statistics. It is estimated that seven out of 10 childhood deaths are from just five causes - pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles, malaria and malnutrition. This is when the capacity to prevent and treat these diseases exists. Shaju Cherumadathil of the Department of Community Medicine, Amala Hospital, says that this terrible toll can be reduced if awareness on prevention and cure of diseases reach the intended audience. The community action programme is aimed at making life-saving knowledge to prevent child deaths and to protect women during pregnancy and childbirth easily available to everyone, he points out. The programme on ‘Behaviour Change Communication’ is based on ‘Facts for Life’, a joint publication by the UNICEF and other international agencies. In this connection, the UNICEF and the Department of Community Medicine, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, will hold a one-day seminar for health care providers in Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts on Wednesday. The main objective is to provide the health care providers with local data and indicators on key issues like maternal mortality, infant mortality, breast feeding practices and immunization coverage. The workshop will discuss and formulate a locally-relevant and sustainable action plan to increase people’s awareness to save children’s lives, according to Dr. Cherumadathil. The seminar will discuss facts about safe motherhood and newborn health, child development and early learning, nutrition and growth, immunization, child protection, injury prevention, emergencies and preparedness. Paediatricians, obstetricians and public health specialists will give presentations. 7 out of 10 childhood deaths are from pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles, malaria and malnutrition The community action programme is aimed at making life-saving knowledge easily accessible