20 chapter 3
The worldwide epidemic of unnecessary injections each year
sickens, kills, or disables millions of persons, especially children.
An international campaign is needed to re-educate doctors, nurses,
health workers, traditional healers (many of whom also now
overuse injections), and the people themselves.
AVOID UNNECESSARY
INJECTIONS
Combatting misuse and overuse of medicines is as important to health as vaccination,
clean water, or the correct use of latrines. Health workers, school teachers, and community
organizers should all work to help people weigh the possible risks and benefits of using
any medication. For ideas on teaching about the danger of unnecessary injections, see Helping
Health Workers Learn, Chapters 18, 19, and 27.
WAR AS A CAUSE OF CHILD DISABILITY
Armed violence is increasing and has become more
deadly. In today’s wars, most of the people killed or injured
are women and children—not soldiers. And the weapons
used in wars, like landmines, cluster bombs, and chemical
agents, have become even more dangerous and threatening
to everyone.
In the past decade, millions of children have died in wars,
and at least 6 million have been injured or disabled. Children,
especially boys, are sometimes forced to fight as soldiers,
and many are either killed or injured and disabled. Girls are
sometimes also forced to be “sex-slaves” for soldiers. Not
only are these children disabled physically, but their mental
health is also badly affected.
The increased poverty and ‘hard times’ caused by war
Nicaraguan child disabled by a
‘Contra’ bomb. The Contras were
rebel troops supported by the
US government to overthrow the
popular government in Nicaragua.
(Photo by Marc Krizack, Links.)
also lead to many disabilities. There are more than 20 million
refugees around the world, many living under dangerous and unhealthy conditions. 170
million children in poor countries are underweight, mainly from lack of food. Millions are
Terrorism is too often fought
with terrorism.
homeless. Yet world leaders continue to spend billions of dollars
on war and arms.
“AN EYE FOR AN EYE WILL
MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD
BLIND.” –Mahatma Gandhi
War, terrorism, and torture have become tools of the powerful
for economic, political and social control. When the peoples of
poor countries dare to get rid of their dictators and form popular
governments that work toward fairer distribution, the rich, powerful countries often try to
destroy those new governments. They pay for terrorism, long wars, and the destruction
of schools, health centers, and production. The result is still more poverty, disease, and
disability.
To help change this situation, we disabled persons of the world must join with all who
are disadvantaged or treated unfairly, to struggle for a new, more truly human, world
order.
Land-mines and cluster bombs cause more disabilities in the world today than
anything else, especially among children. Thousands of children are killed or severely
injured by them each year—while they are carrying out their daily activities, such as
caring for animals, helping with the family farm, or simply playing. Often after an
explosion, the child’s leg has to be amputated. But only about 1 of every 4 children
injured gets a new leg, because they are usually expensive or difficult to get. A
group in India has found a way to make a good quality, low-cost, artificial leg called
the Mukti Limb. For more information about the Mukti Limb, see page 641.
Disabled village Children