Context:
In India, the Mother and Child Protection Card (MCP card) is used for tracking each child right from conception till 3 years of age by frontline workers such as accredited social health activists (ASHA), Anganwadi workers (AWW) and auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM). Apart from functioning as a record of the routine care and immunizations received by the mother and the child, the MCP Card can be used as a counselling tool, for educating them about health, nutrition and child development. It has the potential of creating awareness, facilitating community dialogue and increasing the uptake of services by beneficiaries. Unfortunately, the utilization of the MCP card among beneficiaries has not gained momentum due to limited awareness and understanding of its benefits. It is often perceived as a tool primarily for frontline health workers, leading to a lack of engagement from the beneficiaries themselves.
Purpose:
The ‘MCP card appreciation exercise’ serves as an educational platform for parents, introducing them to the valuable benefits of utilizing the MCP card effectively. Through a step-by-step explanation and assessment of individual MCP cards, the exercise helps the target audience recognize the broader scope of this tool beyond mere vaccination updates. It highlights how the MCP card can aid parents in tracking crucial child health and development milestones.
Moreover, the exercise emphasizes the significance of safeguarding the MCP card, reminding parents to carry it during immunization visits and ensuring regular updates by frontline workers. It empowers parents with the knowledge and skills to independently track their child’s immunization schedule, promoting active engagement in their child’s healthcare journey.
Target Groups:
- Pregnant women
- Parents of 0-3-year-old children
Key Messages:
- Keeping the MCP card safe and updated
- Utilizing the MCP card to track the child’s immunization schedule and growth milestones.
Duration:
4 minutes
Required Resources:
The Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card
How to Use:
- The parent/s are requested to present their card.
- Facilitator to run a check on the health of the card such as the card’s basic details, condition, usage, etc.
- Guide the audience through the information contained in the card, exploring the diverse health parameters that the card facilitates in monitoring and tracking.
- Review the immunization schedule of each to ensure its accuracy and promptly notify parents, taking appropriate measures to address any inconsistencies identified.
- The facilitator explains the need to mandatorily bring the card for the FLW’s purview during each visit to the immunization centre.
