The New York Times recently ran a piece called “One Thing You Can Do: Talk to Your Children about Climate Change.” The article encouraged parents not only to talk to their children but to get them involved in solutions to the dangers of climate change.
What is the first line of defense against almost all infectious diseases? Yes, that’s right — handwashing. Handwashing is key to the prevention of everything from the common cold to Ebola. Handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs (bacteria, parasites and viruses) to avoid getting sick and to prevent the spread of germs to other people.
Are you ready for flu season? The best way to prevent flu is by getting vaccinated each year. Influenza or flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by several viruses. Flu resembles the common cold because it infects the same organs (nose, throat, lungs) and has similar symptoms.
In 1997, WiRED International formed around the idea of improving the health of people living in the world’s most underserved communities. To enable us to pursue that ambitious goal, we embraced emerging technologies that would make it possible for us to teach people about good health.
WiRED is nearing completion of an extensive curriculum to train community health workers (CHWs) in low-resource regions around the world. Kisumu is one of four test sites where a group of 15 people will undergo a rigorous training program lasting three weeks. During a recent trip, WiRED’s team made provisions for the test.
In 2003 a 22-year-old George Orlale started work as a security guard at Kisumu Urban Apostolate Programmes (KUAP) Pandipieri Center in Kisumu, Kenya. Today he is a proud college graduate on the road to his master’s degree in data management.
“Our house is on fire — let’s act like it. We demand climate justice for everyone.” So say the world’s youth as they stage a week-long Global Climate Strike event September 20–27 to demand an end to the age of fossil fuels. Students across our threatened Earth are walking out of school on September 20 to save the planet for their future and for future generations to come. Many school systems in New York City and elsewhere are giving permission for students to leave class, and companies from Amazon to Ben & Jerry’s plan to close their doors for part of the day in solidarity.
Women in low-resource areas are particularly vulnerable to complications during pregnancy and to postpartum hemorrhage. Timely and appropriate management can prevent suffering and loss, yet high-risk communities lack the appropriate knowledge and skilled medical personnel. WiRED International created our Mother and Child Health Series of 24 health learning modules so that women, their families and community health workers can prepare for a healthy pregnancy, delivery and the early years of their child.
Proper nutrition from infancy throughout adulthood is key not only to survival but to lifelong health and well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO) just released a report calling for health services to make nutrition a top priority, stating that doing so could save 3.7 million lives by 2025.
Ideally, doctors and nurses belong on the scene in any medical emergency. However, in underserved areas of the world, the burden of care more often falls on community health workers (CHWs) who, if trained properly, can save lives and prevent further injury. WiRED International is completing a series of First Aid Modules designed to train CHWs on administering urgent and immediate lifesaving measures that can be performed on injured people by nonmedical professionals when medical personnel are not immediately available.