MINISTRY IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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April 15, 2002 — For children growing up in Batey 8, an
impoverished community in the Dominican Republic,
each day is a struggle for survival. There is no organized
garbage pickup, and refuse pollutes the water children
drink. There are no paved roads, and constantly swirling
dust irritates small lungs. There is little money for food,
and children often go to bed hungry.
But the struggle doesn't end there — unclean water
causes diarrhea, dust and dirt can lead to respiratory
infections and hunger results in malnutrition. Combined
with a lack of primary health care, these problems have
caused a disturbingly high child mortality rate in Batey 8.
impoverished community in the Dominican Republic,
each day is a struggle for survival. There is no organized
garbage pickup, and refuse pollutes the water children
drink. There are no paved roads, and constantly swirling
dust irritates small lungs. There is little money for food,
and children often go to bed hungry.
But the struggle doesn't end there — unclean water
causes diarrhea, dust and dirt can lead to respiratory
infections and hunger results in malnutrition. Combined
with a lack of primary health care, these problems have
caused a disturbingly high child mortality rate in Batey 8.
To combat the problem, the American Red Cross, working with
the Dominican Republic Red Cross, implemented the Integrated
Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy in the
struggling nation. The purpose of IMCI is to reduce child
mortality from the five illnesses that account for the majority of
childhood deaths in the developing world. These ailments include
respiratory infections, diarrhea, measles, malnutrition and fevers
such as malaria and dengue.
the Dominican Republic Red Cross, implemented the Integrated
Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy in the
struggling nation. The purpose of IMCI is to reduce child
mortality from the five illnesses that account for the majority of
childhood deaths in the developing world. These ailments include
respiratory infections, diarrhea, measles, malnutrition and fevers
such as malaria and dengue.
The American Red Cross has joined the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health
Organization, which in collaboration with other national and international agencies, ministries of health
and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), proposed the goal to prevent l00, 000 deaths in children
under 5 years of age in the Americas by 2002 following this "effective, low-cost strategy.
Organization, which in collaboration with other national and international agencies, ministries of health
and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), proposed the goal to prevent l00, 000 deaths in children
under 5 years of age in the Americas by 2002 following this "effective, low-cost strategy.
The American Red Cross began working toward this goal a year ago by
launching IMCI programs in communities throughout Latin America where
child mortality is unacceptably high. In the developing nation of the
Dominican Republic, respiratory infections and diarrhea take a heavy toll on
the young. For a child in the United States, a cold or diarrhea is usually only
a brief illness, cleared up in a few days with simple medicines. However, in
the poor communities of the Dominican Republic, a runny nose can easily
develop into pneumonia; diarrhea into severe dehydration. The result is that
44 out of 1,000 children in the Dominican Republic die before they reach the
age of 5. That's more than five times the average of America's child mortality
rate
launching IMCI programs in communities throughout Latin America where
child mortality is unacceptably high. In the developing nation of the
Dominican Republic, respiratory infections and diarrhea take a heavy toll on
the young. For a child in the United States, a cold or diarrhea is usually only
a brief illness, cleared up in a few days with simple medicines. However, in
the poor communities of the Dominican Republic, a runny nose can easily
develop into pneumonia; diarrhea into severe dehydration. The result is that
44 out of 1,000 children in the Dominican Republic die before they reach the
age of 5. That's more than five times the average of America's child mortality
rate
"Before IMCI came to Batey 8, children literally died here each week", said American Red Cross Delegate
Melissa Quimby.
Melissa Quimby.
When children become ill, the health promoters measure their temperatures
and body weight. They keep the youngsters from becoming dehydrated
through the use of oral re-hydration solutions. By catching the children in
the early stages of illness, the health promoters can intervene before
conditions become serious. If after oral re-hydration a child's condition
continues to worsen, the volunteers refer the patient to health care
professionals better equipped to handle the more serious cases.
and body weight. They keep the youngsters from becoming dehydrated
through the use of oral re-hydration solutions. By catching the children in
the early stages of illness, the health promoters can intervene before
conditions become serious. If after oral re-hydration a child's condition
continues to worsen, the volunteers refer the patient to health care
professionals better equipped to handle the more serious cases.
helped rehabilitate the local community water system and built new latrines. The completion of both the
water system and the latrines contributed to a significant drop in the diarrhea rate.
water system and the latrines contributed to a significant drop in the diarrhea rate.
In Batey 8, the death of a child was once a common occurrence. Since the introduction of IMCI into the
monitor our progress, and overall children are staying healthier," Quimby said.
water system and the latrines contributed to a significant drop in the diarrhea rate.
water system and the latrines contributed to a significant drop in the diarrhea rate.
In Batey 8, the death of a child was once a common occurrence. Since the introduction of IMCI into the
monitor our progress, and overall children are staying healthier," Quimby said.
HELPING THOSE WHOCANNOT HELP THEMSELVES BY CALLING @ ( 347) 673-8577 AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOME INVISIBLE CHILDREN LIFE WE ARE A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION YOUR GIFT DONATION WILL BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. GOD WILL RICHLY BLESS YOUR HEART AND YOUR FAMILY REV. VEREL MONTAUBAN. |
