Pneumonia remains the leading cause of mortality among children under five worldwide, calling for urgent action. The challenge is compounded by the high overuse of antibiotics, driven by a critical shortage of diagnostic tools in many regions. This is where the power of innovation and robust translational research steps in.
Introducing **IMCI-PLUS**: An Interdisciplinary, Pan-African-European Union Research Initiative, funded by the European Union as part of the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking. IMCI-PLUS seeks to improve the management of childhood pneumonia by pioneering the integration of Point of Care Lung Ultrasound (PLUS) into both healthcare policy and everyday clinical practice.
Why PLUS? Lung ultrasound, conducted by clinicians right at the patient’s bedside, offers a beacon of hope. Yet, the journey is just beginning – the need for solid, incontrovertible evidence is paramount.
Our Strategy: IMCI-PLUS is embarking on an ambitious journey to determine the real-world health and economic benefits of incorporating lung ultrasound into the standard pneumonia management protocols and to provide guidance for implementation. A prospective randomized controlled trial, complemented by implementation research, will span four settings in three nations – Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania – and include over 8,500 children.
The Future is AI: We are harnessing the power of AI to automate lung ultrasound interpretations, a pivotal step that promises to extend the reach of this technology to underrepresented communities and to allow equitable, collaborative learning.
Collaboration is Key: IMCI-PLUS is a platform for mutual learning and fair collaboration. In our interconnected world, the challenges we face in healthcare are bound by no borders.
Join us on this exhilarating journey as we strive to make a tangible difference in the lives of children across the globe. Here’s to a future where every breath counts!
