After meeting up with Enock, William & Paul in Lusaka, Fredrick & I got on a bus for Mongu.
But before we left Lusaka we went to a wholesaler ( Pharmanova) to buy some Kit Yamoyo’s. I bought a case of 35 kits and divided them equally between, William & Paul in Eastern Province, Fredrick in Mongu and Mualuka in Kalabo.
These are anti diarrhoea kits that contain Oral Rehydration Solution as follows;
- 4 x small format ORS Sachets (4g/200ml)
- 1 x blister pack of 10 Zinc tablets (20mg)
- 1 x 25g bar of soap
- 1 x instruction leaflet
These initially were a wedge-shaped pod ( that is what I bought which have the drinking cup built in) that fits in the unused space between the necks of the bottles in a Coca-Cola crate with the idea that small retailers could transport the kits to their rural shops like these.
The ColaLife movement is based on three observations:
- You can buy a Coca-Cola almost anywhere you go in the world, even in the most remote parts of developing countries
- In these same places 1 in 9 children die before their fifth birthday from preventable causes. Most die from dehydration from diarrhoea.
- The child mortality figures have not changed significantly for at least 3 decades which would indicate that current initiatives are not working.
These kits will save lives!
For more information go to http://colalife.org/
Here is a home made solution for those of you who need it;
Simple Solution ORS-Oral Rehydration Salts
Preparing 1 (one) Litre solution using Salt, Sugar and Water at Home
Mix an oral rehydration solution using the following recipe.
Ingredients:
. Six (6) level teaspoons of Sugar
. Half (1/2) level teaspoon of Salt
. One Litre of clean drinking or boiled water and then cooled – 5 cupfuls (each cup about 200 ml.)
Preparation Method:
. Stir the mixture till the salt and sugar dissolve.
Effective homemade remedy for watery diarrhea
An efficient and effective homemade remedy to be used when watery diarrhea strikes and is a good substitute for oral rehydration salts:
Ingredients:
. 1/2 to 1 cup precooked baby rice cereal or 1½ tablespoons of granulated sugar
. 2 cups of clean water
. 1/2 tsp. salt
Instructions:
Mix well the rice cereal (or sugar), water, and salt together until the mixture thickens but is not too thick to drink. Give the mixture often by spoon and offer the child as much as he or she will accept (every minute if the child will take it). Continue giving the mixture with the goal of replacing the fluid lost: one cup lost, give a cup. Even if the child is vomiting, the mixture can be offered in small amounts (2-1 tsp.) every few minutes or so.
Banana or other non-sweetened mashed fruit can help provide potassium.
Continue feeding children when they are sick and continue breastfeeding if the child is being breastfed.
Tip: Want to print these instructions? Download the printer-friendly version here.
Sorry, you will have to hear about Mongu in the next blog!
Stay tuned!
