136 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
How to Protect Your Children’s Health
1. A sick child like this one
should sleep apart from
children who are well.
Sick children or children with sores, itchy skin, or lice should always sleep
separately from those who are well. Children with infectious diseases like whooping
cough, measles, or the common cold should sleep in separate rooms, if possible, and
should not be allowed near babies or small children.
2. Protect children from tuberculosis. People with long-term
coughing or other signs of tuberculosis should cover their
mouths whenever they cough. They should never sleep
in the same room with children. They should see a health
worker and be treated as soon as possible.
Children living with a person who has tuberculosis
should be vaccinated against TB (B.C.G. Vaccine).
3. Bathe children, change their clothes, and cut their
fingernails often. Germs and worm eggs often hide
beneath long fingernails.
4. Treat children who have infectious
diseases as soon as possible, so that the
diseases are not spread to others.
5. Follow all the guidelines of cleanliness
mentioned in this chapter. Teach children to follow these
guidelines and explain why
they are important. Encourage
children to help with projects that make the home or village
a healthier place to live.
6. Be sure children get enough good food. Good
nutrition helps protect the body against many infections. A
well-nourished child will usually resist or fight off infections
that can kill a poorly nourished child (read Chapter 11).