Health services prior to the introduction of integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) in Togo.

Before the implementation of IMCI in Togo we conducted a rapid health facil ity (HF) survey to assess the availability of materials, supplies, drugs an d vaccines. Such availability was: Accommodation/Functional equipment: conn ected to electricity (33.3% HF); latrine working (28.5%); potable water (60 %); adequate seating (95.6%); ORT corner (17.8%); vehicle (40%); thermomete r and weighing scale and timing device (20%); nutritional education materia l (53.3%); health education posters displayed (40%); working refrigerator ( 28.9%); documentation, cards and records (82.2%); Vaccines against tubercul osis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, measles (42.2%); appropriate drugs (22.2%) with a stock-out of essential medications in at l east 60 HF: chloramphenicol/i.m. (86.7% HF), vitamin A (77.8%), ORS (60%). Delays in the delivery of vaccines and medications were noted in 44.4% of f acilities.