The way forward for integrated community case management programmes: A summary of lessons learned to date and future priorities

Integrated community case management (iCCM) programming is an important and increasingly common strategy used to deliver essential health and nutrition interventions to families in sub–Saharan Africa [1–3]. Between 3 and 5 March 2014, over 400 individuals from 35 countries in sub–Saharan Africa and 59 international partner organisations gathered in Accra, Ghana for an iCCM Evidence Review Symposium. The objective of the Symposium was twofold: first, to review the current state of the art of iCCM implementation by bringing together researchers, donors, government, implementers and partners to review the map of the current landscape and status of evidence in key iCCM programme areas, in order to draw out priorities, lessons and gaps for improving child and maternal–newborn health and nutrition. Second, to assist African countries to integrate and take action on key frontline iCCM findings presented during the evidence Symposium around eight thematic areas: 1) Coordination, Policy Setting and Scale up; 2) Human Resources and Deployment; 3) Supervision & Performance Quality Assurance; 4) Supply Chain Management; 5) Costs, and cost-effectiveness and financing; 6) Monitoring, Evaluation and Health Information Systems; 7) Demand generation and social mobilisation; and 8) Impact and outcome evaluations. The eight thematic areas were based on the CCM benchmark framework, a tool for iCCM program planners and managers to systematically design and implement iCCM programs from the early phases through expansion and scale up. The framework specifies key steps that should be completed for each component and phase of implementation [4].