The Medicine Kit
331
CHAPTER
23
Every family and every village should have certain medical supplies ready in
case of emergency:
• The family should have a HOME MEDICINE KIT (see p. 334) with the
necessary medicines for first aid, simple infections, and the most common
health problems.
• The village should have a more complete medical kit (see VILLAGE MEDICINE
KIT, p. 336) with supplies necessary to care for day-to-day problems as well
as to meet a serious illness or an emergency. A responsible person should
be in charge of it—a health worker, teacher, parent, storekeeper, or anyone
who can be trusted by the community. If possible, all members of the village
should take part in setting up and paying for the medical kit. Those who can
afford more should contribute more. But everyone should understand that
the medicine kit is for the benefit of all—those who can pay and those who
cannot.
On the following pages you will find suggestions for what the medicine kits might
contain. You will want to change these lists to best meet the needs and resources
in your area. Although the list includes mostly modern medicines, important home
remedies known to be safe and to work well can also be included.
How much of each medicine should you have?
The amounts of medicines recommended for the medicine kits are the smallest
amounts that should be kept on hand. In some cases there will be just enough to
begin treatment. It may be necessary to take the sick person to a hospital or go for
more medicine at once.
The amount of medicine you keep in your kit will depend on how many people it
is intended to serve and how far you have to go to get more when some are used
up. It will also depend on cost and how much the family or village can afford. Some
of the medicines for your kit will be expensive, but it is wise to have enough of the
important medicines on hand to meet emergencies.
Note: Supplies for birth kits—the things midwives and pregnant mothers need to
have ready for a birth—are listed on pages 254 to 255.