Health Education

 Lack of safe water and sanitation is the world’s single largest cause of illness. The toll on children is especially high. About 4,500 children die each day from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation facilities. Countless others suffer from poor health, diminished productivity and missed opportunities for education. (UNICEF)
         One of the areas we will be focusing on is training the teachers and parents of the children on how to stay healthy by practicing basic personal hygiene and making and using  safe drinking  water. 
        Randy  researched  and pulled together some  health training modules using information (with permission)  from WHO (World Health Organization). Today he trained the rest of the team.
        At the Rock of Ages Preschool we will be distributing a Hygiene Kit containing soap, nail clippers, several toothbrushes and toothpaste.  Most of these items have been donated by  the amazingly generous people in the Pocatello community. We will assemble 100 kits, one for each child and teacher and more if we get the donations.
        Next we'll be teaching the teachers and mothers how and when to use the items in the kits, giving simple explanations on what germs are (organisms you can't see  that can make you sick),  and the importance of washing your hands with soap and clean water after  going to the bathroom, petting animals, coughing or sneezing,or before preparing food  or eating. Randy had some great posters we can use to visually emphasize these points.  We will also be giving  lessons on how and when to clip and clean nails, especially under the nail  to keep them free of dirt where germs can live. Lastly, we will be showing them how to use the tooth brushes and toothpaste we distribute and the importance of brushing, even of you don't have tooth paste!
        Clean water is essential for good health! Betty, the director of Rock of Ages Preschool who was with us today,  said most of the people in the village do get water out of a tap but they should boil it first. Some do. We will emphasize the importance of boiling water for 1 minute, covering it and letting it cool before using it to wash, brush your teeth, and drink or cook with it.