Breaking News

May November child health awareness months

02 Jun 2013

The Ministry of Health has joined the world in commemorating months of acceleration of high impact interventions for child survival and development.

A press release from the ministry stated that interventions had proved to reduce child illness and deaths. Months of May and November were set aside to raise awareness on child health with the aim to reduce neonatal, infant, child and maternal mortality in Botswana in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and vision.

It also stated that Vitamin A supplementation formed part of the high impact interventions for child health. Vitamin A was also a micro nutrient found in plant and animal food such as milk and milk products, meat, chicken, beef, egg yolk, fish oil, liver, yellow and orange fruits as well as vegetables.

During the early years of their life, children’s growth and development was rapid and nutritional needs might not be adequately met from the amount of foods given.

Therefore, the release said, vitamin A supplement was important to children’s bodies because it promoted their growth and development by strengthening their immune system, preventing death from measles and diarrhoea, preventing blindness as well as malnutrition.

Thus, parents and guardians of all children less than five years; from six to 59 months were encouraged to ensure their children went for monthly child welfare visits at any clinic or hospital and also check if children received their immunisation as per the national schedule.

It further stated that other recommended activities for the acceleration of high impact interventions for child survival and development include breast feeding, hand washing, oral rehydration therapy, long lasting insecticide nets and complementary feeding.

The public was thus encouraged to be vigilant on their children’s health to avoid cold related ailments such as flu, while parents and caregivers were also urged to keep children warm and take all necessary measures to avoid fire accidents. ENDS

Source : BOPA

Author : BOPA

Location : GABORONE

Event : Press release

Date : 02 Jun 2013