This informal CPD article ‘Child Health at Crisis: A Holistic Approach for a New Era’ was provided by Cima Care, who offer extensive training in vaccination and public health, advancing global health initiatives.
The Wake-Up Call That We Can Not Ignore
Did you know that children in Europe and Central Asia are facing more health challenges than we have seen in decades? In a recent eye-opening Lancet article, Dr Hans Kluge cautions that Europe and Central Asia are witnessing a storm of health crises involving the youngest citizens (1). Stalled immunisation programmes, measles making an unwelcome comeback, and mental health concerns soaring are troubling pictures that require our immediate attention.
But the good news is that innovative digital approaches show remarkable promise in turning this tide!
What Is Really Happening to Our Children?
The latest WHO-UNICEF findings present a sobering sight (2). The progress that took decades to succeed in lowering child mortality is now at risk. Mental health issues are affecting a staggering one in four children. Preventable diseases like measles are resurging at alarming rates.
And that's not all. About five million children face developmental challenges, while childhood obesity has reached unprecedented levels, affecting one in three primary school students. These are not isolated problems – they are interconnected challenges threatening both our children's immediate well-being and the region's future health.
Piecemeal solutions will not cut it anymore. A more cooperative, technology-proficient approach centred on community demands is required.
Five Pillars for a Healthier Future
What if we told you a framework could already transform child health? The WHO-UNICEF approach highlights five key principles that are showing remarkable results:
1. Smart Investments That Actually Work
Strategic Investment in Child Health is the first way introduced to advance child health. One effective smart investment is digital solutions offering real-time tracking, personalised reminders, and powerful visualisation tools that can help healthcare workers know exactly where to focus their efforts. When designed to work offline in remote areas and with robust privacy protections, these tools become game-changers for strengthening child health systems, especially in challenging environments.
2. Protection That Goes Beyond Basics
Ensuring care and protection is another highlighted principle. Imagine transforming routine vaccination appointments into comprehensive childcare experiences. By combining validated health information with smart tracking systems, digital platforms create ecosystems where parents receive timely reminders about upcoming vaccinations in addition to culturally relevant guidance tailored to their child's developmental stage via health messages.
Moreover, digital platforms create ecosystems that allow healthcare workers to have digital records that they can access anytime and gain access to professional development courses that elevate both their knowledge and confidence in supporting families.
3. Fighting Fiction with Facts
Combating commercial harm is another principle highlighted as an effective way to enhance child health. Here is a startling reality: health misinformation spreads 70% faster online than accurate information (3). In a world where commercial interests often outweigh public health priorities, how do we ensure families get reliable guidance?
The answer lies in multi-channel approaches that deliver scientifically sound information through various touchpoints. Educational blogs can share transparent research findings while teaching critical fact-checking skills. Moreover, professional development programmes can transform healthcare providers into trusted community voices who effectively bridge the gap between complex science and public understanding, systematically addressing vaccine hesitancy and other health-disturbing misconceptions through clear, respectful communication.
4. Breaking Down Silos Through Partnership
The next principle highlighted as an effective way to address child health is cross-sector collaboration. No single organisation can solve complex child health challenges alone. The most promising initiatives are developing strategic partnerships across continents, connecting alliances, and enhancing strength.
The alliance networks bridge critical gaps between practitioners, institutions, and communities. By blending global standards with local healthcare contexts, such cross-sector collaborations build ecosystems that strengthen public health through knowledge exchange and capacity building - and strengthen health-provider management systems, ensuring impact from policy levels to frontline care.
5. Measuring What Matters
The other strategic area in child healthcare transformation outlined in the WHO-UNICEF framework for advancing child and adolescent health is 'Measuring Progress'. How do we know we are making progress? As an example, data-driven approaches can show the real impact of vaccination in improving vaccination timeliness and uptake. Moreover, advanced analytics enable real-time tracking and generate detailed heat maps that guide resource allocation, while visualisation tools help clinics optimise their immunisation strategies.
Training healthcare professionals from diverse countries and measuring progress creates networks of skilled practitioners ready to implement evidence-based vacation strategies. Structured monitoring frameworks inform decision-making at both clinic and policy levels, ultimately improving provider knowledge, reducing hesitancy, boosting vaccination coverage, and enhancing children's health outcomes globally.
The Road Ahead: Technology Meets Compassion
Digital innovation and educational initiatives directly support the WHO-UNICEF vision for child and adolescent health. Modern technologies combined with quality education provide what's needed to:
- Reverse alarming trends in immunisation rates and disease resurgence.
- Protect hard-won gains in reducing child mortality.
- Tackle critical challenges in mental health, development, and obesity through timely, evidence-based approaches.
- Build stronger, more resilient healthcare systems from the ground up.
By working together, healthcare professionals, technology innovators, policymakers, and communities can transform child health systems across Europe and Central Asia. Every child deserves access to quality healthcare and preventive services. And with the right tools, professional development, partnerships, and commitment, this vision can become a reality.
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from Cima Care, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
References:
1- De Dominicis R, Kluge HH. Future-proofing Europe and Central Asia: a renewed focus on child and adolescent health. The Lancet. 2025 Feb 1;405(10476):377-8.
2- https://www.unicef.org/reports/global-multisectoral-operational-framework
3 - WHO. Combating misinformation online [Internet]. Available from: https://www.who.int/teams/digital-health-and-innovation/digital-channels/combatting-misinformation-online
