why children lose their vision and what we can do
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2 ways to make rehydration drink
If you can, add half a cup of fruit juice, coconut water, or mashed ripe banana to
either drink. These contain potassium, a mineral which helps a sick child accept
more food and drink.
1. With sugar and salt. (You can use
raw sugar or molasses instead of
sugar.)
2. With powdered cereal and salt.
(Powdered rice is best. But you can use
finely ground maize, wheat flour, sorghum,
or cooked and mashed potatoes.)
In 1 liter
of clean
WATER
put
half of
a level
teaspoon
of SALT
and 8 level
teaspoons of
SUGAR.
In 1 liter
of clean
WATER
put half and 8 heaping
of a level teaspoons of
teaspoon powdered CEREAL.
of SALT
Boil for 5 to
7 minutes
to form a
liquid gruel
or watery
porridge.
Cool the drink
quickly and
begin to give
it to the sick
child.
CAUTION: Before adding the sugar, taste
the drink and be sure it is less salty than
tears.
CAUTION: Taste the drink each time before
you give it to make sure that it has not
spoiled. Cereal drinks can spoil within a few
hours in hot weather.
Prevention:
• have your child immunized against measles. Your child can get
the measles immunization as early as 6 to 9 months of age. See a
health care worker to find out if this vaccine is available in your
community.
• keep children away from anyone with measles.
• if someone has measles, wash their bedding, clothes, and eating tools
separately from the rest of their family.
Usually, measles is not a serious sickness. But
when children are weakened because they do not
get enough to eat, or because of diarrhea from
drinking unsafe water, sicknesses like measles can
be very dangerous. It is really poverty that makes
these children blind.
helping children who are blind