Health education course, chapter 1 - part 1: serving children's  (Page 2/5)

The most effective protection from insects is wearing long sleeves and pants during feeding times. Anopheline mosquitoes, thecarriers of malaria, bite from dusk to dawn, so protecting yourself during the day is most important. Those near stagnant water should be especiallycareful as the anopheline mosquitoes breed in water.

Where and When Insects are Most Active

Dusk and dawn are the most active time for insects, so protecting oneself is essential. Limit outdoor activities during thesetimes and stay in protected areas if there are any. Avoid stale water, ditches, or any stagnant water as that is the breeding ground for themalaria-carrying mosquitoes.

Here are three resources that can help you learn more about mosquito-borne diseases, along with prevention:

• http://www.mosquito-netting.com/
• http://www.e-ticks.net/
• http://www.malaria-prevention-info.com/

Protection against illness from animals - avoiding dangerous animals

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Avoiding snakes

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Contagious people

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Caution against mixing body fluids

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Sexual safety

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Maintaining good hygiene

According to UNICEF, "more than half of all illnesses and deaths among young children are caused by germs that get into theirmouths through food or water or dirty hands. Many of these germs come fromhuman and animal faeces.

Many illnesses, especially diarrhoea, can be prevented by good hygiene practices: putting all faeces in a toilet orlatrine; washing hands with soap and water or ash and water after defecating or handling children's faeces, and before feeding children or touchingfood; and ensuring that animal faeces are kept away from the house, paths, wells and children's play areas.

Everyone in the community needs to work together to build and use toilets and latrines, protect water sources, and safelydispose of waste water and garbage. It is important for governments to support communities by providing information on low-cost latrines andtoilet facilities that all families can afford. In urban areas, government support is needed for low-cost sanitation and drainage systems, improveddrinking water supply, and garbage collection.

A Dirty Face

A dirty face attracts flies, spreading the germs they carry from person to person. The eyes may become sore or infected and visionmay be impaired or lost if the eyes are not kept clean and healthy.

If the eyes are healthy, the white part is clear, the eyes are moist and shiny, and vision is sharp. If the eyes are extremely dry orvery red and sore, if there is a discharge or if there is difficulty seeing, then the child should be examined by a health worker as soon as possible.

Avoiding standing water

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Importance of boiling water

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Keeping the food area clean

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Girardia

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Human waste

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Nutrition

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Food preparation and care

Cooking food thoroughly kills germs. Food, especially meat and poultry, should be cooked all the way through.

Germs grow quickly in warm food. Food should be eaten as soon as possible after cooking so it does not have time to collect germs.