Development of a Tool for Health Screening and Assessment in Orphanages in Lesotho

Abstract

In low- and middle-income countries that have high burdens of disease, simple interventions such as health screenings can have a significant impact on health outcomes. Among vulnerable children, orphans in particular, deaths are often caused by conditions preventable through early identification and provision of basic health and nutritional needs. After consulting local preventative care guidelines and medical providers, a health screening tool for use in orphanages was created. This tool was used to screen children in two orphanages in Lesotho. Overall, the tool was found to be easy, efficient, and valuable in identifying both preventable and immediately treatable conditions in orphans. As a result, orphans with long-term medical needs were linked to community-based providers by developing individualized care plans in collaboration with orphanage colleagues. This preventative tool offers a screening strategy that directly aligns with the United Nations Agency for Development's Sustainable Development Goals and helps to advance the goal of universal health coverage.