Summer 2010 Jo Lee - JO LEE Magazine

Health is wealth, so they
say. It can also be known that
health is life. At every instance, any
opportunity to better one’s health
must be embraced because a healthier
life is a better life.
Every child born into the world
enters into a new environment,
very different from its 9 month
experience in the womb. Now, he/
she becomes exposed to the many
harsh environmental conditions
and pollution that fills the day
especially in our African cities. With
this comes the need for adequate
protection, hence immunization of
the child against very deadly diseases.
Numerous efforts have been taken
over the past decades to protect and
care for millions of children who are
in danger of dying or suffering from
common diseases in the first few
years of life. Thus, improved medical
treatment, together with greater
access to health care, have helped to
reduce childhood deaths considerably
in parts of the developing world.
However, gaps still remain where the
number of child deaths has actually
increased. According to the world
health organization (WHO), many
of these children were not seen at any
of the health facilities.
In Tanzania, as many as 40% of
children who died were never taken
for treatment, while in Bolivia, the
figure is about 74%. It is clear that
advances in medical treatment alone
are not enough to reach over 11
million children who die every year
before their fifth birthday.
Hence, new thinking suggests
that improving the way children
are treated and cared for in the
community is now recognized as
a vital weapon in the struggle to
protect children who risk dying
from common, largely preventable
diseases.
Key Family Practices Which
Improve Child Health And
Development Are
Breastfeed Babies
exclusively for six months (HIV
positive mothers need special
counseling on infant feeding to
understand and practice the safest
options).
From Six Months On
give children good quality
complementary foods while
continuing to breastfeed for two
years or longer.
Ensure
children receive enough micro
nutrients - such as vitamin A
and iron in their diet or through
supplements.
Dispose Of
all faeces safely, wash hands after
defecation, before preparing meals
and before feeding children.
Take Children
to complete a full course of
immunization before their first
birthday.
Protect Children
in malaria-endemic areas by ensuring
they sleep under insecticide treated
bed-nets.
Promote
mental and social development by
responding to a child’s needs by
playing, talking and providing a
stimulating environment.
Continue
to feed and to offer more fluids,
including breast milk
to children when they are sick.
Give
sick children appropriate home
treatments for infections.
Recognize
when sick children need treatment
outside the home and
take them for care with appropriate
providers.
Ensure
that every pregnant woman has
adequate antenatal care, and seeks
care at the time of delivery and
afterwards.
Important - ensure that care is given
at the right time and adequately. The
health of a child is the health of the
world and the wealth of the world!
Let’s invest in improving child health
- at home and in our communities.
JL
Jo Lee Summer 2010 91