18 chapter 3
In addition to secondary disabilities that are physical, others may be psychological or social
(affecting the child’s mind, behavior, or place in the community).
Some disabled children develop serious behavior problems. This is often because they
find their bad behavior brings them more attention and ‘rewards’ than their good behavior.
Chapter 40 discusses ways that parents can help prevent tantrums and bad behavior in
disabled children.
The biggest secondary handicap for many disabled children (and adults) usually comes
from the lack of understanding and acceptance by other people. PART 2 of this book
talks about how the community can be involved in taking a more active, supportive role in
relating to the disabled and helping them to meet their needs. In PART 2 we also discuss
what disabled persons and their families can do, in the community, to promote better
understanding and prevent disability from becoming a serious handicap.
Prevention of secondary disability is a basic part of rehabilitation.
THE NEED FOR MORE SENSIBLE AND
LIMITED USE OF INJECTIONS
The overuse and misuse of medicines in the world today has become a major
cause of health problems and disabilities. This is partly because medicines are so
often prescribed or given wrongly (for example, certain medicines taken in pregnancy
can cause birth defects, see p. 119). And it is partly because both poor families and
poor nations spend a great deal of money on overpriced, unnecessary, or dangerous
medicines. The money could be better
spent on things that protect their
health—such as food, vaccinations,
better water, and more appropriate
education. Some medicines, of course,
when correctly used are of great
importance to health. But most are not.
Of the 30,000 medicinal products sold
in most countries, the World Health
Organization says that only about 250
are needed.
In most of the world, doctors, health workers,
and the people make giving and getting
injections too big a part of health care.
In many countries, injections
have become the ‘modern
magic’. People demand them
because doctors and health
workers often prescribe them,
and doctors and health workers
prescribe them too often
because people demand them.
Disabled village Children