Effective Mainstreaming of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and the Rights-Based Programming Approach: “Walking Tohe Walk” Imperatives of Pediatrics and Child Heath Care Foundations in Ethiopia and Elsewhere

Abstract

Aim: The piece of work puts imperative emphasis on effective mainstreaming of the Convention
of the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Rights-based Programming Approaches (RBPA) in all
dimensions of Pediatrics and Child Health Care practices as the cardinal professional morale
guide.
Method: This is a descriptive qualitatively review. Pertinent electronic and/or hard copy
materials of the College of Health Sciences of the Addis Ababa University, University of Gondar
College of Health Science, Hawassa University’s College of Health Sciences, and Jimma
University’s College Public Health and Medicine and, the Federal Ministry of Health were the
primary data sources. Curricula of these four major public Health Sciences Colleges and the
Health Ministry’s Programme documents, specifically, focusing on Pediatrics and Child Health
Care in Ethiopia were systematically analyzed in light of the global dynamics. Extent of concrete
attention and hence incorporation of the CRC and RBPA fundamentals into the respective
regular standards of academic and programmatic practices in particular comprised the
overarching criterion, focus, and indicator of the systematic appraisal.
Observations and reflections: In light of the contemporary state of knowledge and
standards of practices pertaining to CRC and RBPA, it became evident that the various levels of
Pediatrics and Child Health practitioners have not been putting sufficient enough academic and
programmatic efforts on these dimensions, specifically, within the pre- and in-service Pediatrics
and Child Health Training Curricula packages in Ethiopia thus far. Practically the same typical
feature was found prevailing in respect to the pertinent strategic guidance document of the
Ministry of Health, namely the National Strategy for Child Survival in Ethiopia (2005/06-
2014/15). It could have been assumed that, by now, mainstreaming of CRC and RBPA will have
become coherent and hence straightforward standards of Pediatrics and Child Health practices,
all across, in light of the on-going active support which is being provided by the key United
Nation agencies and other sizable number of Development Partners.
Conclusions: CRC and RBPA competency Pediatrics and Child Health practices should
constitute among the foundational “walking the walk” requirements at all times. In this respect,
comprehensive, interconnected, and systematically thorough enough intervention package may
be warranted.