Diarrheal Diseases, Soap/Water and Teach Children!

The health consequences of inadequate water and sanitation services include an estimated 4 billion cases of diarrhea and 1.9 million deaths each year, mostly among young children in developing countries. Diarrheal diseases lead to decreased food intake and nutrient absorption, malnutrition, reduced resistance to infection, and impaired physical growth and cognitive development. Since 1996, a large body of published work has proven the effectiveness of interventions to improve water quality through household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS) at reducing diarrheal disease.

Many diarrhoeal diseases are passed on by dirty food and water. Knowledge about hygiene, and effective action in the household and the community will help prevent the spread of disease. Put all garbage in a container in a safe place away from children; keep it covered to keep out flies and rats. When it is full, take it to a special pit or dump, where it can be composted, buried or burnt. You should wash your hands with soap and water, after using the latrine/defaecating, before cooking, before eating or feeding children, before breastfeeding, after touching animals and poultry or anything dirty and after eating. Put all animal and human excreta into the latrine, and teach children to use the latrine. If there is no latrine, bury or burn excreta. Keep the latrine clean at all times. Put all food scraps into a special container which is covered and kept out of reach of children and animals.

Children learn many important things in life by observing how the adults around them act or listening to the things they say. Today the environment is a topic that is being discussed more and more in the home and at school. This is especially true in Australia where a water shortage is projected to become a critical problem within the next 10 to 20 years. One of the best ways to teach children about the environment is to show them actual and practical ways they can address issues such as water management. A child will always remember more about what they are learning when able to participate. When you install a rain water system, you can actually show your children how taking specific steps to conserve water is important. You prove to children that just talking about water conservation is not enough, because each person must actually do something tangible to save water.

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