Children are dying because of the fear of Ebola

Confronting rumours and myths
Ebola is spreading across Sierra Leone at an alarming rate, yet half the battle is to confront the rumours and myths that so often sweep through communities in times of crisis.
Sarah, the manager of a local health centre, used to see 20 to 30 children every day as well as 10 or more mothers. But there has been a dramatic reduction in attendance since the outbreak.
According to Sarah, “they are scared to come because they are always saying that when they come to the hospital we class them all as Ebola patients.”

Common illnesses going untreated
This fear means that common illnesses such as respiratory tract infections, malaria, diarrhoea and vomiting, are going untreated - sometimes with serious consequences.
“Most of the children are not coming to the clinic because their mothers are scared to bring them,” says Sarah. The children “are dying because of the fear of Ebola.”
“I met a mother when we went out,” she continues, “her child was very malnourished.
“He was unable to eat. So we tried to talk to the mother about the child’s condition. We advised the mother and told her to bring the child to the hospital.
“She promised us that she would come but she never did.

“The understanding is not there”
“The understanding is not there. We tell them what will happen if they don’t come to the clinic but only a few come. But that will not stop us. We will continue our work to raise awareness.”
In the face of this unprecedented health crisis, it is vitally important that communities are given the tools and knowledge to protect themselves. Save the Children has funded Sarah’s clinic and is also providing training and support for the community health workers.
Patrick is one of these. He learnt about Ebola through a number of workshops run by Save the Children and other NGOs.
Initially, they would go door-to-door to see whether there were any suspected cases of Ebola, but now they are also giving people health and hygiene advice.

“We must overcome our fear”
Patrick says: “Ebola is killing a lot of people…As a community health worker, you have made a vow to serve the community. You can be afraid of the disease, but we are there to raise awareness and we must overcome our fear.
We are not doing this for ourselves, but for the unborn children and for our future.”

6 in direction of Eight months

0 toward Four months
 For infants, milk is the simply just important food stuff (with water) or versus the breast. Cow's milk does not address 100% of nutritional use crucial for the improvement of your little one. Simply breast milk satisfies all nutritional desires of toddlers. Just breast milk fulfills all dietary demands of infants. For mothers who are not able or unwilling in the direction of breastfeed, infant formula is an alternative. In just all predicaments, it is essential towards follow the guidance of the professional medical profession included with checking your boy or girl. For the selection and frequency of feeds be sure to check with your fitness treatment professional. In no way ignore that each kid is substitute. This is a constructive year toward try out your child within just Youngster Slumber Fits to see if he/she reacts inside of soreness or not.

 Four to Six weeks
 In opposition to 4 months you may involve dietary diversification; this is a principal action for the progress of the two your kid and his or her gustatory education and learning. Diversification is just one course to stop guaranteed illnesses taking place inside of adulthood this kind of as weight problems. That is why jars of kid food stuff include no more sugar and no extra salt. Through this period, the principal meals is the milk but the baby's digestive procedure develops adequately towards soak up other vitamins and minerals. Above five months a youngster can swallow semi-solid meals because the actions of his tongue develop into more coordinated.

 The Weaning Procedure
 Concerning 4 and six months a baby begins to demonstrate its desire toward try to eat in a different way.
 Within just general, he/she may well sit with your support and retain food in just his mouth. Sometimes he chews anything is within attain, drools each time he sees anything to take in and demonstrates indications of hunger even immediately after feeding.

 The moment on your own have made a decision it is time in the direction of wean, connect one particular hour meal through which your baby will purchase your notice. Some infants are hungrier within the evening; many others are hungrier in just the morning. At first, on your own present amazingly minor levels with a spoon. Do not rush the introduction of a fresh new food and do not try out toward do it all within just one day. It is a course of action that is unfold out about period. Some infants consume what by yourself provide and anticipate even further. Other folks do not together with the contact of the spoon inside of the mouth. It is recommended in direction of publish simply 1 fresh new food stuff for every working day toward support him take a look at the real flavor of each individual food stuff and establish any intolerance. Amongst veggies, on your own can get started with carrots, inexperienced beans, spinach, squash (seeded and skinned), leeks, pumpkins, and beetroot. In between fruits, by yourself really should Deliver ripe fruit, de-seeded (in highest cases anyway). Culmination or vegetables should really be combined towards come across a gentle texture and steamed in order to continue to keep the vitamins and minerals. Oneself can start through blending a couple veggies or fruit in a bottle of milk if your kid refuses the spoon.

 Each individual day, offer you your child a handful of minor spoonfuls just after feedings if he appears to be hungry. Then two weeks later, advise a second model of food with a spoon. If the experiment proves rewarding, try a third foods design two weeks later on. If your kid continue to wants burping then shift forward and then pop him or her down for a supervised rest inside Baby Sleeping Luggage if your youngster gets worn out following feedings.

 6 in direction of Eight months
 From Six months a child starts off chewing, even if he or she has no tooth. Gradually, you-can put up clean flavours and clean textures to aid educate your babys palette.

 8 in the direction of Twelve months
 From Eight weeks your kid is sitting up and having fun with early teething. The child can by now swallow Quite minor parts of put together food stuff.

 12 towards Fifteen weeks
 Close to the age of Twelve weeks your kid commences to stand on his individual toes and starts towards get his initially ways. Your boy or girl additionally learns to seek the services of a spoon and feed himself/herself.

 Towards 15 weeks and onwards
 In opposition to this age, preferences variance and some flavours begin towards be loved and other individuals start towards be disliked. This is anytime your self kid will commence towards take pleasure in snacking, as a result putting a carrot adhere or apple cut within just your childs hand will train them to get pleasure from greens Though they are older.

 Albert Jakeman is a dietary guide who specialises in baby merchandise these kinds of as boy or girl food stuff, Boy or girl Sleeping Luggage and Little one Rest Satisfies.

Altering on in direction of material softener

 It may well be reassuring to know it is not constantly essential toward retain the services of a baby detergent for your babys clothes. Simply because a boy or girl detergent does not constantly get hold of rid of stains and odors upon your baby's clothes as you would like, it might be improved your self substitute in direction of some other detergent.

 Altering on in direction of material softener

 Ahead of modifying in direction of a material softener, make yes to check out one report of outfits initially. Except if your kid consists of allergies, eczema, atopic dermatitis, or other illnesses impacting your babys sensitive pores and skin, liquid detergents meant particularly for toddlers are your least complicated bet for the reason that they effort for all versions of apparel. Nonetheless if there seems to be in the direction of be some stress, oneself can nevertheless check out using a material softener detergent that does not incorporate shades or fragrances.

 Why Material Softeners?

 Superior than an common child detergent that basically washes given that they occur with alternate options in the direction of meet the have to have of your babys delicate skin. Fabric softeners arrive within 2 layouts: sheets and liquids; they way too appear within scented as well as fragrance-free options.
 Fabric softeners give materials a softer feel and support reduce static cling (particularly educational for synthetics and long term drive items).
 They are manufactured in the direction of deliver apparel feel softer and smoother, and at the identical year avoid wrinkles within garments and mitigate the will need to iron.

you are sure toward comprise a twins.

Centre cost The baby's heart selling price may well in addition be a child predictor. Just take child woman contains a instant heart cost, approximately One hundred seventy beats for each instant When a little one boy contains center fight simply becomes end towards near 150 per instant. Health care practitioners think about this prediction treatment as unreliable considering that the baby's centre selling price could possibly change about for the duration of the working day.
 Wedding ceremony ring Some old couples bellieve that your wedding ring can assistance on your own identify your baby' gender. All your self comprise in the direction of do is only hold your wedding ring employing a string. Preserve it about your tummy. If the ring swings inside a round movement, oneself are greatest possibly toward conceive a boy. On the other hand, if the ring swings again and forth, there is superior probability that oneself are with regards to in direction of comprise a girl.
 Key examine The thought is incredibly simple. Effortlessly seize a major. If you grabbed the top, it is added likely in the direction of be a boy. If by yourself grabbed the bottom, then there is much larger alternatives of conceiving a lady. If yourself select the mystery in just the middle, this usually means you are sure toward comprise a twins.

 As stated, each and every free little one gender predictor talked about higher than does not be certain yourself 100% accuracy. For least difficult results, an ultrasound will is highly instructed.

As mom and dad, it is thoroughly natural and organic in the direction of be curious in excess of your baby's gender as nicely as little one gender predictors. Much too a great deal consists of been claimed around your pregnancy kid gender. Grandma says it is a girl considering the fact that off your month to month cravings for sweets. Your aunt says it is a boy mainly because of the shape of your belly. At present, youngster prediction techniques consists of a wide assortment of tests and tell-tales in opposition to aged wive's tales toward innovative DNA checks. If by yourself are curious more than the intercourse of by yourself child, listed here is a lits of absolutely free boy or girl gender predictor which may possibly need in the direction of just take. Simply just hold within just mind that each no cost boy or girl gender predictor mentioned underneath does not be certain 100% precision and that an ultrasound is continue to thought of necessary.

 Mommy's tummy It is thought that if a woman's stomach is high and round, the boy or girl is highest likely toward be a woman. Upon the other hand, a protruding tummy

When bombs fall as regularly as rain

Save the Children works independently and impartially around the world– wherever there is need. We are currently working in Gaza and the West Bank. Save the Children as a global organization is equally concerned about the wellbeing of children in Israel as those in the West Bank and Gaza.  

Osama Damo is part of the Save the Children team on the ground in Gaza, and this blog represents his perceptions from living and working there. 
Where bombs fall as regularly as rain

It starts in earnest after the sun sets. I’m not sure why. It is Ramadan at the moment, and here in Gaza we are fasting 16 hours a day. Our only moment of joy is breaking our fast together at sunset. But not now. With darkness comes death these days. 
From my home I can hear the sounds of bombs falling in Gaza from Israel and sometimes rockets being launched here in Gaza toward Israel. Gaza is so tiny, the buildings rattle and shake with every bomb. 

We joke darkly amongst ourselves. The last offensive (in 2012) took place in the winter, and we told our children that it was lightning strikes, thunder. Those noises are not to be feared. But now, what can we tell them? It is summer. And so we laugh without humour, and tell each other that perhaps it is time to tell our children the truth. 
When we realised how serious the situation was becoming, we became glued to the TV for news. We performed our routine check – are our friends ok? Our family? You do this check so regularly. We check our fridge – how much food do we have? How much water? 

We have a phrase in Arabic, literally translated it means ‘we have not even had the chance to breathe yet’ – since the last conflict in 2012. It seems we have not even had the chance to adjust ourselves, to convince our children they are safe, before they are not safe anymore.

The silliest things go round in my mind. I am an avid football fan, and was so enjoying the World Cup. Now I hate it. Only when it is over will the rest of the world perhaps be interested in what is unfolding in our little corner of the world. 

And the darker, more morbid thoughts. What will our children grow up to be, these young children, of six years old, who have now known three of these offensives/military operations conflicts? When bombs seem to fall as regularly as rain. How will they ever view peace? On both sides… for some children this is normal now, they barely flinch. I honestly don’t know what is worse.

The streets are eerily quiet, the honking of horns has subsided. The only noise now is the explosions around us, and the occasional scream mixed with windows glass smashing. The air itself is like war – thick with acrid smoke and the taint of explosive. 
We have enough food here for a few days, maybe a week if we are careful. Once the fuel runs out, there will be no water either. I worry about this. Hospitals are reportedly running out of equipment and some supplies. 

The last time this happened, Save the Children launched a response in Gaza. We delivered urgently-needed medical supplies to hospitals and clinics, distributed food and plastic sheeting to families whose homes had been severely damaged, and set up a network of special centres with expert staff to counsel children and help them recover from their experiences. 

This time…I worry that we may need to do same again. The same children will need the same kind of care. The same hospitals, the same homes. And in another two years, and another? When does it end?

Telling stories opens children’s minds

On 10 September, around 40 preschoolers and their parents were in Rugasari ECCD centre in Ruhango district, Rwanda, discovering new ways to enjoy reading.
There was singing and playing; a session facilitator read aloud from a big book in Kinyarwanda (the local language).
The children commented frequently on the story, which was about a man who loses his hat.
When the facilitator read how the hat was finally returned to the man by a dog, one child wisely pointed out, to the amusement of the parents, that dogs do not wear hats.

The benefits of storytelling
After the session, 5-year-old Emmeline said she was happy to hear the story about the man whose hat had blown away, but her favourite story is the one her mother usually tells her.
With a smile, Emmeline’s mother said: “Telling stories opens children’s minds.”
Emmeline’s mother highlighted an important truth: that reading is a route into other people’s experiences.
It’s a spark for imagination, a tool for dreaming and creating – and a way to promote compassion for others in the very young. These are just a few of the benefits of literacy.

Focusing on the quality of education
In Rwanda, many children who complete primary school lack the ability to read and write proficiently but the country has made real efforts to improve children’s literacy.
In 2013, researchers from Stanford University, in partnership with Save the Children and the Rwanda Education Board, conducted an assessment of reading levels among first graders in Gicumbi district.
The study revealed that many children had a poor grasp of basic skills such as letter identification. On average, students at the end of first grade could only identify 8 out of 24 letters of the alphabet, with a mere 4% being able to identify all the letters.

Rwanda Literacy Week
Rwanda’s Ministry of Education is trying to improve children’s literacy skills is through the Rwanda Reads Initiative, through which the Rwanda Education Board and various international and national organisations aim to nurture a culture of reading in Rwanda.
This year, the Ministry of Education extended International Literacy Day: those pre-schoolers were learning about reading right in the middle of Rwanda Literacy Week.
Other activities during the week included reading contests, storytelling events, book fairs and visits to mobile libraries, hosted by various international and local organisations.

Raising awareness on literacy
The Rwanda Education Board also held a two-hour TV and radio live call-in conference to discuss the importance of literacy and how everyone can actively engage in literacy promotion.
Rwanda Literacy Week is a good example of ways in which governments and development partners can work together to raise awareness of the importance of literacy.
The hope is that a culture of reading will spread across the whole nation, and adults as well as children will reap the benefits.

Save the Children construye su primer centro de tratamiento de ébola en Liberia

29 de septiembre de 2014. Save the Children ha abierto un centro de tratamiento del ébola en Liberia, gestionado por International Medical Corps (IMC).

El centro, que cuenta con 70 camas, está en la provincia de Bong, una de las provincias de Liberia más afectadas por el ébola – enfermedad que podría infectar a cerca de 1,4 millones de personas para enero.
“Tenemos pocas semanas de margen para detener la expansión de la enfermedad, que ya está fuera de control. Para ello es urgente que el tratamiento y el cuidado de los afectados sea mucho más accesible”, dice Mercy Gichuhi, Directora de Save the Children en Liberia. 

“Las camas disponibles en las unidades de tratamiento no son suficientes para las necesidades existentes. De hecho, hay personas infectadas, entre ellas niños, que están siendo rechazados porque los centros están desbordados. Es muy triste que en algunas zonas haya personas muriendo en la calle, en condiciones indignas, mientras nadie se atreve a acercarse a ellos”, añade Gichuhi.

Save the Children va a construir otra unidad de tratamiento del ébola en la provincia de Margibi, que también está gravemente afectada por el brote. Estas unidades tienen salas de aislamiento y proporcionan asesoramiento con médicos especialistas, cuidados y tratamiento hasta que el paciente se recupera o, en los peores casos, muere. Estas unidades también descongestionan los servicios médicos convencionales que, fuera de Monrovia, han cerrado casi al completo por la alta tasa de mortalidad del personal sanitario.

“Desde agosto, solo en Margibi han muerto 20 trabajadores sanitarios por ébola. El personal de enfermería y el resto de los equipos no estaban suficientemente informados sobre cómo identificar la enfermedad y carecían de medios para evaluar y tratar la enfermedad con seguridad”. 

Además, Save the Children abrirá otras 10 unidades de cuidado en Liberia. Estas se construyen más fácilmente que los centros de tratamiento, necesitan menos recursos y tienen empleados que se forman a nivel local, con capacidad para evaluar a los pacientes y detectar los primeros síntomas de la enfermedad. Estas unidades se establecen de manera rápida en los puntos más críticos y facilitan la evaluación inmediata de los pacientes que presentan síntomas. 

“Las unidades de cuidado del ébola complementan a los centros de tratamiento y ayudarán a que más personas puedan ser evaluadas y comiencen el tratamiento rápidamente. También se formará a algún miembro de la familia del afectado para que sepa cómo cuidar de él, reduciendo el trauma que supone la separación familiar en un momento tan doloroso y aterrador. Pero a pesar del trabajo que se está haciendo, necesitamos con urgencia más profesionales con formación específica que trabajen en la respuesta internacional, así como los recursos financieros necesarios para frenar el rápido progreso de la enfermedad”, concluye Gichuhi.