14 chapter 3
Although the most complete
prevention of disabilities related
to poverty depends on social
change, this will take time.
However, more immediate actions
at family, community, and national
levels can help prevent some
disabilities. For example,
• Polio, in certain situations,
can be prevented through
vaccination. (However,
effective vaccination depends
on much more than good
vaccine. See the box.)
In places where vaccination
is not available or not fully
effective, families and
communities can help to
lower the chance of
paralysis from polio
by breast feeding
their children as
long as possible
(see p. 74).
Why, since a good vaccine exists, is there
still so much polio in so many countries?
EFFECTIVE VACCINATION DEPENDS ON
MANY FACTORS:
TECHNICAL
Production
and supply
of safe,
effective,
vaccine.
ECONOMIC
(Cost of vaccine
and of getting it
to the children.)
Leaders in
poorer countries
must decide that
stopping polio
is worth the
expense.
MANAGEMENT
Knowledge of needs,
planning, transportation,
and distribution of the
vaccine.
KEEPING POLIO VACCINE
FROZEN (In many
countries, 1/3 of vaccines
are spoiled by the time
they reach the children.)
EDUCATION People must
understand the value of
vaccination and want to
cooperate. Health workers
must know how important
it is to keep polio vaccine
frozen.
POLITICAL Vaccination
programs are most
successful where the
government fairly
represents the people and
has their full participation
in countrywide
vaccination campaigns.
ETHICAL (Honesty and
goodwill) Doctors, health
workers, and citizens must
try to see that vaccine
reaches all children. (In
some countries, some
doctors throw vaccines
away and fill out false
reports, and health
inspectors do not care
enough to try to stop what
is happening.)
• Brain damage and seizures can become less frequent if mothers and midwives take
added precautions during pregnancy and childbirth, and if they vaccinate children
against measles. (See p. 107.)
• Some birth defects and mental slowness can be prevented if mothers avoid most
medicines during pregnancy, and spend the money they save on food.
• Spinal cord injury could be greatly reduced if fathers would spend on education and
community safety what they now spend on alcohol and guns.
• Leprosy could mostly be prevented if people would stop fearing and rejecting persons
with leprosy. By being more supportive and encouraging early home treatment, the
community could help prevent the spread of leprosy, since persons being treated no
longer spread it. (See p. 215.)
• Blindness in young children in some countries is caused by not eating enough foods
with vitamin A. Again this relates to poverty. However, many people do not know that
they can prevent this blindness by feeding their children dark green leafy vegetables,
yellow fruits, or even certain weeds and wild fruit. Also, some kinds of deafness and
mental slowness can be prevented by using iodized salt during pregnancy (see p. 276
and 282).
Disabled village Children