Tuberculosis - Fighting a Disease of the Past
Tuberculosis and children, two words that we don't like to link together. Yet in the developing world this disease affects many children. When they live in a household where a parent has the disease, income is affected as the adult becomes too sick to work and/or spends precious resources on medicines. Simple childcare and education are often neglected. Too many times small children are forced to work to support the family.
And then there are the children who contract tuberculosis (TB). This harsh disease, which affects the lungs, leaves children in a weakened and often malnourished state. It is common to find children under the age of 15 struggling with this health problem. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 250,000 children die each year from the disease. ADRA Philippines recognized this problem in the Barangay province.
Working with the Barangay Health Unit Midwives, ADRA identified 54 children between the ages of one and 12 who were the most at-risk TB positive and whose parents were unable to pay for health care and medicines. Thanks to those who supported the 2006 ADRA's The Original Really Useful Gift Catalog, ADRA Philippines provided the full 6-month dose of medicines needed for each child. The local midwives administered the drugs and tracked the children's progress. While on the medication most of the children gained more than two pounds each month. Fifty of the children have completed the medication and are now TB free!
Upon seeing how the health of these children has dramatically improved, their neighbors went day after day to the local government health unit demanding that their children receive treatment as well. After investigating ADRA's success, the local government secured the funds and purchased enough medicine to treat an additional 100 children with TB.
In an effort to keep the children TB free, ADRA provides training to their parents on the importance of keeping the children away from cigarette smoke, keeping clean air circulating throughout the house, and providing the children with balanced, nutritious meals.
In the words of one grateful mother, "I thought my child was going to die soon, but now that she is going to live, I will work hard and take her to school. Thank you ADRA!"
