Treatments

The scope of our kits is restricted to what could be described as ‘African First Aid’. In practice this can mean simple cuts and bruises as well as treatment of Malaria. Our health workers are able to diagnose and treat:

Malaria
Worldwide one person dies from Malaria every 30 seconds and 90% of these deaths occur in sub Saharan Africa. Annually our network provides around 110,000 first line treatments for cases of malaria,

Pneumonia
Our health workers are trained to identify symptoms of pneumonia in children under the age of 5. Prior to referral to the nearest health centre or hospital for further investigation the health workers prescribe a small amount of antibiotics Annually about 16,000 children are helped in this way.

Anaemia
Maternal mortality claims 529 lives for every 100,000 live births in Tanzania. Our health workers prescribe Ferrous Sulphate in order to boost iron levels in young women prior to pregnancy in around 22,000 cases each year.

Worms
Intestinal worms retard physical development in children as well as having a debilitating effect on adults. Albendazole is a safe and effective treatment for this condition administered to almost 100,000 people in 2006.

Conjunctivitis
Not life threatening but very uncomfortable and highly infectious, particularly when children share beds. Tetracycline in the form of an eye ointment is a highly effective treatment. 14,000 cases treated every year.

Dehydration
Compromises the body’s ability to recover from illness. In cases of malaria or diarrhoea ORS (Oral Re-Hydration salts) is a winner. Our health workers hand out about 25,000 sachets annually.

Scabies
Is a parasitic infection causing intense itching and is common among children. A solution of Benzyl Benzoate applied to the skin and washing of clothes in hot water usually sorts this out. 6,000 cases treated annually.

First aid
Various types of dressings along with antiseptic and disinfectant solutions took care of 91,000 first aid cases in 2006.
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Prevention

Prevention is one of the main themes during the training of VHW's. Topics that the VHWs are encouraged to promote among the their fellow villagers are the importance of maintaining a good diet and access to safe drinking water.

Although much of this is common sense two areas stand out require continual restating.

AIDS
One of our nurses has been trained to promote awareness of HIV and AIDS and the need to practice safe sex. As a qualified AIDS animator and a sufferer of HIV herself she is ideally positioned to provide counseling to people who are HIV positive.

Malaria
Mosquitoes transmit malaria; so prevention revolves around either restricting their habitat or not getting bitten.

Working in conjunction with the local Rotary Club CHCD has been successful in distributing over 1000 nets via the network of Village Health Workers.