The card gives information on the immunization schedule and the doses of Vitamin A to be given to the child during the first five years. Boxes in the chart indicate each type of vaccine, date to be given, date when it was given and age.
Mention the uses of the MCP card.
• It functions as a record of the routine care and immunizations received by the mother and the child.
• As a tool to monitor the health and nutrition status of the pregnant woman and thereafter of the child till three years
• For educating families about:
Various types of services which they should access for ensuring the overall health and well-being of women and children.
About the practices for achieving good health of pregnant women, mothers and children
For promoting birth preparedness
• The counterfoil which is retained by the health worker helps in:
Identifying the dropouts
Estimating the number of beneficiaries for the next session
Estimating the vaccine requirement for the next session, based on the above information
Serving reminders for parents to report for the immunization on the due date
The information on the counterfoil can be used to issue a duplicate immunization card if the beneficiary has lost the original card.
• Administrative:
The counterfoils retained at the health center along with the beneficiaries' registers maintained by the health worker can be used to assess the immunization coverage in the area.
For monitoring effective service delivery in the area
As a discussion tool in village meetings like ‘village health and sanitation committee’ meetings
What information is obtainable from the card?
• Immunization status of the child and the mother during pregnancy
• Date of birth, name, and sex of the child
• Name of the parents
• Address of the child
Mention some steps to improve immunization coverage in an area.
• Making complete entries in the immunization cards, counterfoils, and the registers by the health worker.
• Follow-up of the dropouts, i.e., those who do not report for the vaccination on the due date.
• Giving clear instructions to the parents/ guardian regarding the due date for the child's next vaccination.
Mention the suggested schedule for the 4 antenatal visits.
Every pregnant woman should have at least 4 antenatal visits, including the first visit when registration is done.
1st visit: Within 12 weeks preferably as soon as pregnancy is known - for registration of pregnancy and first antenatal check-up
2nd visit: Between 14 and 26 weeks
3rd visit: Between 28 and 34 weeks
4th visit: Between 36 weeks and term
What kind of health education material is printed on the MCP card?
Health education regarding the following is printed on the card for the benefit of the mother and family.
• Routine care during pregnancy (e.g. number of ANC visits, inj. TT, IFA tablets)
• Danger signs during pregnancy
• Importance of institutional delivery
• Birth preparedness
• Care of the newborn:
Initiation of breast feeding within 1 hour of delivery
Regarding exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months of life
Regarding care of the newborn (e.g. keeping warm, avoiding contact with sick people)
Danger signs in the child for which to seek help from the health worker
• Record and details of immunization and vitamin A supplementation
• Regarding normal development of the child till 3 years of age
Growth chart
Correct feeding practices
Normal developmental milestones
Care of the child during illness e.g. diarrhea, fever and acute respiratory infection
ICDS services
References:
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC COOPERATION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 2012. A Guide for Use of the Mother-Child Protection Card. Min of Women and Child Welfare, GOI, New Delhi
GOI. Immunization Handbook for Medical Officers. New Delhi: Department of Health and Family Welfare; 2016.
Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness (BP/CR): http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/%E2%80%98birth-preparedness-and-complicatio...
Mother and Child Protection Card: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/mother-and-child-protection-card
Intensified Mission Indradhanush: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/intensified-mission-indradhanush
HUB CUTTER: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/hub-cutter
AUTO-DISABLE (AD) SYRINGES: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/auto-disable-ad-syringes
Ice lined refrigerator (ILR): http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/ice-lined-refrigerator-ilr
Ice Pack: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/ice-pack