Red Cross Stresses H1N1 Preparedness
(ABC 6 NEWS) – There are two things about H1N1 that health officials agree on:
“We are going to see a rise in the number of h1n1 cases that are being diagnosed,” says Brigitte Campbell of the Mower County Red Cross.
“Just because it’s out there doesn’t mean everybody’s going to have to get it,” adds Vince Lynch, a Red Cross Disaster Services volunteer.
The American Red Cross says now is the time to put together your plan for the next outbreak of H1N1. You can start by putting together a two week supply of things you might need in the event of a severe outbreak.
“Kleenex, medicine, food, canned food. That’s part of a plan,” says Campbell.
You might compare it to preparing a fire-escape plan: what works in your house might not work in someone else’s house. An H1N1 plan should be put together the same way.
http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S1053509.shtml?cat=10151
Breastfeeding A Strategy To Save Babies’ Lives
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Last Updated on Saturday, 01 August 2009 08:56 Written by Azlan Othman Saturday, 01 August 2009 08:50
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Bandar Seri Begawan - World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from August 1-7 all over the world to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHOM and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
Brunei through the Ministry of Health is also celebrating the week where the theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2009 is “Breastfeeding - a vital emergency response. Are we ready?” This was highlighted in the message from the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya lndera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi, in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week.
The theme highlights the need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in emergencies, especially for a baby’s and young child’s survival, health and development. “The number of emergencies is rising and we must be prepared before and during emergencies,” the message said.
WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complimentary foods for up to two years or beyond.
Children are among the most vulnerable groups during - emergencies due to their increased risk of death. Risk of death can increase two to 70 times higher because of diarrhoea, pneumonia and ‘malnutrition. During emergencies, uncontrolled donations of breast milk substitutes may undermine breastfeeding and should be avoided.
Breastfeeding is the best life-saving strategy. Even in non-emergency settings, babies under two months old who are not breastfed have six times higher risk of death. Even in emergencies, breastfeeding mothers are still able to give their babies a clean, safe sustainable food and water supply, and actively protect their babies from infections.
Infant formula offers no immune protection and harms an infant’s gut defence mechanisms, making infections easier, Further risks emerge from dependence on quality and supply of formula, water and fuel, intrinsic contamination of infant formula and difficulty in cleaning feeding bottles.
As part of the emergency preparedness plan, networking between the experts in breastfeeding and the national disaster management council needs to be initiated and executed.
Healthcare workers from both Health and Medical Services under the Ministry of Health need to be trained in lactation management course so that they can help and support breastfeeding mothers. “With all our efforts in emergency preparedness, may Allah grant his blessing for our country,” said the minister’s message. — Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
“Kleenex, medicine, food, canned food. That’s part of a plan,” says Campbell.
You might compare it to preparing a fire-escape plan: what works in your house might not work in someone else’s house. An H1N1 plan should be put together the same way.
http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S1053509.shtml?cat=10151
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The gov is pushing the get prepared platform, the flu is coming, the storm is on the way, and don’t forget the terrorism.
They never say the entire country could go on strike, to protest the ‘o’ goofy plans.
No question, we had better be prepared.