Child health in India

RCPCH has been involved in two child health projects in India in recent years.

Training in evidence-based medicine

Led by Professor Ruth Gilbert of the Centre for Evidence-Based Child Health (CEBCH), this programme has been running since 2006. The initial three-year project, funded by the David Baum International Foundation (DBIF), aimed to provide Indian paediatricians with the skills needed to use research evidence appropriately and integrate it with their clinical practice.

 In collaboration with the the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, a series of 'How to practice evidence-based child health' courses were run in Chandigarh. 78 clinicians from across India attended and six local tutors were trained.

In a continuing programme, also funded by DBIF, an introductory course has been run in Bangalore and 'Training of Trainers' courses have taken place in Chandigarh and Delhi. It is hoped that new centres will take on the courses in 2011-2012 and eventually the IAP will take over running courses across India.

Child protection training

In 2005 the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) approached the RCPCH to explore the possibility of collaborating to develop child protection training for Indian paediatricians.  A working group drawn from the RCPCH, NSPCC and ALSG ran 'Training of Trainers' workshops in Chennai and Mumbai for 73 doctors and other health professionals from throughout India. In addition, group members contributed to the IAP Conference, delivering a guest lecture on 'Protecting Children from Abuse and Neglect' and participating in a Round Table on children's rights.

These meetings and workshops led to the formation of networks of multidisciplinary teams in Chennai and Bangalore and establishment of a national group under the IAP to address issues of protocols, training and advocacy.