August 2011 Issue 2

Measuring Height and weight of the children and identification of dental and eye problems

he main criterion in finding the childs malnourishment or childs healthy living is by measuring the height and weight of him/her. The stunted height and weight implies that the child does not have enough nutritious intakes. As a part of the health program in order to identify the malnourished children, the health workers of Arogyam team started measuring height, weight of the children across the villages. 30 villages were covered by the health team. The dental and eye problems were also identified. The result of this survey would help us to plan for our future intervention for the low weighed children and for the children with eye and dental problems. Parents of the low weighed children were met by the health team and they were advised to provide necessary nutritious food to the children. The consolidation of the height and weight measurement is on process.

Health Teams visit to Tanjur: A Learning experience

ealth team Prabha, Angel and Viji visited ICPTH-Sughavazhvu health network. This visit was made to know about the implementation of the health projects in rural areas. They aim to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable healthcare solutions to rural populations ICPTH has implemented three clinics in rural village, each covering the population of 10000 people. They provide health care to the village people by providing health cards to each family at a minimal rate i.e., 15 rs per consultation. It was a learning experience for team to reach the rural population through clinical setting.

DIABETES MYTHS
Diabetes is a complex disease. You may have heard conflicting theories on what causes it, how it is diagnosed, and how it is managed. If you are affected by diabetes, you will want the truth about the disease. In each box will be some common myths that you may have heard.

Case History

avithra is 5 years old girl studying in 1st standard and an only daughter to Ebenezer and Indira. They live in a small village called ayuil in kaveripakkam block. Ebenezer works as a coolie. His earning is not sufficient to run the family. She was born with hearing and speech disability. Her parents thought that her future is in dark. She cannot be living a normal life. They were worried about her. AidIndia health team identified her and took her to hospital. The doctor said that she needs continuous training and treatment. The team worked on providing education to the child. Now pavithra has joined in Lutheran school for deaf and dumb with the help of our health team. Pavithra is happy and she will soon be trained to speak and listen and will be educated as a normal child. Her Parents thanked the health team for bringing a change in their daughters life.

Myth: There is no diabetes in my family, so I dont have to worry. Fact: Diabetes does run in families, but many people diagnosed with the disease have no close family members who have it. Lifestyle, heredity, and possibly other factors, such as certain viruses, may increase risk for the disease. Myth: By drinking water, I can wash away the extra sugar in my blood and cure my diabetes. Fact: Although you can wash away sugar spilled on a table, you cannot wash away a high blood glucose level by drinking water. However, you can control diabetes by eating healthy food, being physically active, controlling your weight, seeing your medical team regularly, taking prescribed medications, and monitoring your blood glucose often.

Parents meeting

arents meetings have been conducted in 8 villages (Thappur-12., koothambakkam-15, polipakkam-8, and paaranchi-25) of lathur and Kaveripakkam block. The awareness on anemia, adolescent health, common health problems and nutritious intake of the children were discussed during the meeting. The parents were asked to give sathumavu biscuits to improve the nutritious intake of the children and they were asked to maintain the menstrual hygiene of their adolescent girls by using sanitary napkins. Health problems of the children were identified through parents meetings and necessary interventions were planned. Height and weight were measured in front of the parents and low weighed childrens parents were given information on providing healthy and nutritious food for the children. The parents were also informed about the health camps such dental camps, eye camps to be conducted. The team also discussed about the eradicating the myths on certain health issues such as extraction of teeth would lead to sickness etc., Other health queries by the parents were answered by the health workers.

IYCN UNICEF workshops

idIndia Health team Arogyam partnering with UNICEF has conducted IYCN workshops in villages of Krishnagiri district during the month of August. The aim of the workshop is to reduce malnutrition in pregnancy mothers and the children till age two, through 1000 days approach. The two days workshop was divided into 12 sessions. The workshops have been conducted in 6 villages of 3 blocks (Krishnagiri, Barugur and kelamangalam). Each workshop will cover minimum 50 villagers Self help group leaders, Village head, ward members, Anganwadi workers, pregnant mothers and adolescent girls. The workshop stresses the importance of breast feeding, introduction of complementary food, immunization, prevention of anemia, nutritious intake of the pregnant mothers, children till age 2 and diseased children. The participants are encouraged and motivated to carry this message to all the mothers and adolescent girls across the village. Pretest and post test have been conducted to find the knowledge level of the participants. One of the feedback from the participant is The trainers gave us very useful information about the wellness of the mother and the child. The detailed information provided by them helped us improve our knowledge and to be aware of myths. The trainers answered our queries on the health issues. I thank you very much on behalf of our village for selecting our village for this program and providing us awareness on important issues to enhance our living. Ms.Surabhi-Unicef said that the program is conducted in a systematic manner. Only role plays can be added to make the program more effective. More IEC materials may be used. Myth: Its called sugar diabetes, so it must come from the sugar I eat. Fact: When you eat food, the body turns it into a form of energy called glucose, also known as blood sugar. Glucose is not the refined sugar that you buy in stores. Insulin helps move the blood glucose into the bodys cells for energy. When the bodys own insulin does not work well or when not enough is made, the blood glucose level rises. Then the person has diabetes.

Sathumaavu biscuits and Sanitary napkins

team has working on improving OurSathumaavubeenthe flour whichrural comthe nutritious intake of the children. is has

position of all the pulses and cereals. Biscuits are prepared with this nutritious flour by adding ghee and palm sugar. Each nutritious enriched biscuits are given to the ESK children to improve their nutritious food intake. Napkins given to Sanitary girls at a are the villagestheto adolescent minimal cost through the health workers of improve the hygiene level among the girls.

Dental Camp

eaching health to the rural poor is the main aim of our team. The rural population does not have access to dental care and do not have an awareness on the oral hygiene. We organized the dental camp for the school children at ESK model school Lathur block on August 6th, 2011. The number of beneficiaries was 40. Among them 30 children had undergone extraction, cleaning and filling. The children and the parents were given awareness on oral hygiene. Dr. M. Shivakumar, the head of the Department of Public Health Dentistry at the Ragas Dental College, and nine post-graduate dental students did the treatment. The children and the parents took part in the camp eagerly and the parents were happy and thanked the health team and the doctors for conducting the camp. The next dental camp has been planned for the vembakkam school (kancheepuram district) children on September 8th 2011.

Myth: Ill know that I have diabetes by my symptoms. Fact: A person with type 1 diabetes, usually seen in children and young adults, will have obvious symptoms, because they have little or no insulin, the hormone that controls the blood glucose level. However, people with type 2 diabetes, which usually occurs later in life, or women who have gestational diabetes, the special diabetes that only appears during pregnancy, may have few or no symptoms. Their symptoms are milder since they still produce some insulin. Unfortunately, they dont make enough insulin, or it is not being used properly. Only a blood test can tell for sure if someone has diabetes. Myth: My doctor says I have borderline diabetes. Since I have just a touch of sugar, I dont have to worry. Fact: There is no such thing as borderline diabetes. To many people, borderline means they dont really have the disease, so they dont have to make any changes to control it. This is wrong. If you have diabetes, you have diabetes. Diabetes must be treated and taken seriously.