Where There Is No Doctor 2011 149
How many fathers have spent their last money on drink when their children were
hungry? How many sicknesses result because a man spends the little bit of extra
money he earns on drink rather than on improving his family’s living conditions?
How many persons, hating themselves because they have hurt those they love, take
another drink—to forget?
Once a person realizes that alcohol is harming the health and happiness of those
around him, what can he do? First, he must admit that his drinking is a problem. He
must be honest with himself and with others. Some individuals are able to simply
decide to stop drinking. More often people need help and support—from family,
friends, and others who understand how hard it may be to give up this habit. People
who have been heavy drinkers and have stopped are often the best persons to help
others do the same. In many areas Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups exist where
recovering alcoholics help one another to stop drinking (see p. 429).
Drinking is not so much a problem of individuals as of a whole community. A
community that recognizes this can do much to encourage those who are willing to
make changes. If you are concerned about the misuse of alcohol in your community,
help organize a meeting to discuss these problems and decide what actions to
take. For more about harm from alcohol, and community action, see Helping Health
Workers Learn, Chapters 5 and 27.
Many problems can be resolved when people work
together and give each other help and support.
SMOKING
There are many reasons why smoking is dangerous
to your own and your family’s health.
1. Smoking increases the risk of cancer of the
lungs, mouth, throat, and lips. (The more you smoke,
the greater the chance of dying of cancer.)
2. Smoking causes serious diseases of the lungs,
including chronic bronchitis and emphysema (and is
deadly for persons who already have these conditions
or have asthma).
3. Smoking can cause stomach ulcers or make
them worse.
4. Smoking increases your chance of suffering or
dying from heart disease or stroke.
5. Children whose parents smoke have more
cases of pneumonia and other respiratory illness than
children whose parents do not smoke.
6. Babies of mothers who smoked during
pregnancy are smaller and develop more slowly than
babies whose mothers did not smoke.
(turn page)
SMOKING
lungs
damages
stomach
heart and
circulation
children
of those
who
smoke
pregnant
women
(their
babies)
the
family food
budget.