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Simple Tools to Save the Lives of Mothers and Kids

Simple Tools to Save the Lives of Mothers and Kids Imagine if pregnant women and their kids in developing countries could be given simple, lifesaving health care, even when miles away from a hospital or doctor. Community health workers-trained practitioners who provide health care for pregnant women, assist in childbirth, and treat newborns-provide just that service. Without community health workers, pregnant women and newborn babies in the developing world are at risk for disease. More than 350,000 women die in childbirth and pregnancy each year, and almost 3.6 million babies die before they are a month old. Even small complications can be deadly for people living far from hospitals. Community health workers are saving lives by using a very basic-yet very important-set of solutions and techniques. UNDER-5 MORTALITY IN A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER'S KIT: They might be hundreds of miles from the nearest hospital, but a community health worker can carry with them enough medicine and equipment to make an enormous difference in the lives of their community, especially mothers and their children. This is some of the equipment they might carry: DOWN 40% TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA 1. Soap, Sterile Blade, Plastic Sheet, Clean Thread or Cord Clamps In low-resource areas, this simple, clean equipment can ensure safer childbirth. Mothers received in-home training from community health workers to give their children anti-malarial drugs. 2. Misoprostol Misoprostol is a drug that helps to prevent bleeding after childbirth. It doesn't need to be injected, and because it doesn't need to be refrigerated, it's easy to transport. NEWBORN 3. Baby Hat and Swaddling Materials Keeping babies warm is important. Hats and blankets help prevent newborn hypothermia and infections. DEATHS DOWN 54% 4. Insecticide-treated Bed Nets By sleeping under nets treated with insecticides, mothers and their children can reduce their risks of being bitten by malaria-infected mosquitoes. UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA Community health workers helped teach the community about hygiene and preventing neonatal hypothermia by encouraging skin- to-skin contact between the baby and mother. 5. Pediatric Zinc Tablets Diarrhea is a leading cause of death among children in developing countries. Using zinc with oral rehydration therapy can significantly reduce the severity of the illness. 6. Vaccines Rotavirus, pneumonia, measles, Hib and DPT vaccines are all crucial for protecting children from disease. For example, rotavirus alone is the cause of more than 500,000 deaths a year in the developing world. NEWBORN DEATHS DOWN 7. Pneumonia Drugs and Timer for Respiratory Tracking Pneumonia can pose a major health risk for children. Proper treatment and the use of a simple timer to monitor breathing can help save lives. 34% 8. Plumpy'nut Plumpy'nut is a peanut-based paste rich in vitamins, minerals and calories that helps promote rapid weight gain for children suffering from malnutrition. It doesn't need water or refrigeration and lasts for two years. SYLHET, BANGLADESH Community health workers encouraged clean cord care, provided blankets to keep babies warm, and encouraged breastfeeding. 9. Educational Materials (like Flash Cards) These cards can give new mothers advice when the community health worker isn't available, and can help teach best practices for the mother's health and for raising healthy children. A COLLABORATION BETWEEN GOOD AND KISS ME I'M POLISH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION. SOURCES: BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION; "ACHIEVING CHILD SURVIVAL GOALS: POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS," BY ANDY HAINES, ET AL.; PATH; UNICEF.

Simple Tools to Save the Lives of Mothers and Kids

shared by kcatoto on Mar 23
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Imagine if pregnant women and their kids in developing countries could be given simple, lifesaving health care, even when miles away from a hospital or doctor. Community health workers - trained pract...

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