Children as
Health Workers
24CHAPTER
24-1
In villages and communities throughout the world, young children are often
cared for by their older brothers and sisters. These young ‘child-minders’ not only
play with their smaller brothers and sisters, but carry them about and even bathe,
change, and feed them. It is not unusual for a small child to spend more time under
the care of an older sister or brother than with his mother or father.
In some areas, children—especially girls—do not attend school regularly because
they are needed at home to watch the smaller children while their mothers work.
If children can learn more about how to protect the health of their younger brothers
and sisters, they can make a big difference in the well-being and development of
young children in their communities.
After their mother died, this young girl
did her best to care for her baby brother.
If she had known more about his needs
and how to care for him, perhaps he
would be healthier.
This girl is doing a good job of caring for
her baby brother. If health workers can help
children to learn more about meeting the
needs of their smaller brothers and sisters,
this will do much to improve children’s
health.