News coming from the Congo, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and many other troubled places in the world steels my determination to advocate the part children and young people have to play in preventing and resolving health and social justice issues that affect them.
30 years ago and as a contribution to The International Year of the Child in 1978, Hugh Hawes and David Morely set up The Child-to-Child initiative. In those early days days the idea was mainly about what individual children could do to make to the health of others, particularly younger ones.
They thought of single messages and activities which could save and improve lives. The world loved the Child-to-Child idea and it grew and since then it has developed into a small thriving organisation, The Child-to-Child Trust based at the University of London's Insitute of Education. I have had a long and close association with the Trust since 1989 and was a full time member of staff for 6 years working as a trainer, adviser and project manager.
In the latest newsletter from The Child-to-Child Trust (Nov 2008), Hugh and David reminded us about the following 17 crucial health messages. Messages we should all know, pass on, teach to others and ask them to pass on. The first 12 messages can be acted on by families almost anywhere. The last five contain elements which children may not be able to control, e.g. nets, worm medicine, antibiotics at health posts, or parents unwilling to give upharmful practices.
In each case the 17 messages are explained fully in one of the activity sheets contained in Child-to-Child, A Resource Book (3rd edition).
- Children who have diarrhoea and lose too much water and salt may die. Rehydration will put back the liquid they lose.
- Children learn to talk by hearing others talk to them.Talk to babies as much as possible.
- The kitchen or cooking area is the most dangerous part of the house for babies. Smoke from cooking fires harms their lungs. Keep them away from the fire and cooking pots.
- Do not put poisons like paraffin in soft drink bottles and keep bottles away from children.Treat burns with cold water immediately.
- Cars kill. Teach little children road safety.
- Regular and the right kind of brushing saves teeth and gums. Teach smaller children to use brushes or sticks.
- Wrapping patients with fever in blankets can kill them. Keep children sick with fever cool (but not cold).
- Little children’s faeces are even more full of germs than adult ones. Wash hands after touching them. Teach little children to wash hands.
- Befriend and play with children whose families have HIV/AIDS, and visit their families. YOU CANNOT CATCH HIV/AIDS THIS WAY.
- Flies spread disease onto food. Keep food covered from them.
- Make sure water is as clean as possible. Keep hands away from it at the water source. Cover the water pots andjugs. Water stored in clear plastic drinks bottles and keptin the sun or strong daylight for six or more hours is safeto drink.
- Small children need to be fed often, at least four times a day otherwise they may not get enough food to growwell. Children who are ‘too thin’ are everybody’s concern.
- Immunisation against measles, whooping cough and other illnesses has saved many lives. Spread the message to families and help look after other children so that allthose who need immunisation can be taken at the right time.
- Malaria kills small children: prevent mosquitoes from biting them at night.
- Babies and little children who breathe too fast (over 50 breaths a minute) may be in danger. Call for help.
- Smoking (by mothers and other family members) can harm babies in the womb and after birth. Spread the message.
- Worms weaken children, if you see them tell someone.
See more posts about the work of The Child-to-Child Trust under the category, Fantastic Allies!
