Reduction of diarrheal diseases in under-five children in Lagos, Nigeria

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Promotion of hygiene through hand washing
Based on the evidence that only 26% of the population in Nigeria wash hands after defecation, 46% wash hands before eating and 3.6% wash hands after cleaning a child’s bottom (Lagos 2013). A five year strategic plan will be rolled out in one of Lagos slums to reduce diarrhoea in children aged of 2- 5, a pilot project will be conducted in Makoko. Since 95% of the population has no piped water and in our short implementation plan as much as we provide clean water through chlorination of shallow wells and boreholes, will distribute alcohol based hand wraps in all local daycares, preschools and pharmacies. The roll out in schools will be in form of information, education and communication teaching materials. Teachers will be given educational lessons on the spread of the diarrhea diseases and how it can be abated. The lessons on the spread of the disease will be incorporated in the new school curriculum and follow ups will be based on quarterly visits, school attendance registers.

Strengthening vaccination campaigns and treatment of diarrhea diseases
Pharmacists are the point of contact in Nigeria in terms of outbreaks of epidemics. With a view that only 15% of children received proper WHO guidelines of how to administer diarrhea vaccines from the pharmacists, we will conduct sessions to strengthen their knowledge on the treatment and prevention of diarrhea cases. Pharmacists have an essential role in reducing child mortality rates because they are easily accessible and are distributed in urban or rural simultaneously.

On the other hand, WHO recommends the use oral zinc (tablets or syrups) as an additional therapy with oral rehydration solution (ORS) for acute childhood. In addition, the pr...

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...nt is the participation will enhance ownership and increases the success of the program.
Since there are structure in place in the community for hygiene promotion in the city of Lagos such community meetings, organizations advocating for hygiene, schools to mention a few, these can effectively the key messages on how to prevent and treat diarrhea cases. In fact these are cost-effective based on fact that health priorities compete with scarce resources.
In addition, partnership and involvement of state and non state actors is critical in making this project successfully one. This will create a conducive environment and provide added value to influence hygiene promotion. Inclusion of key stakeholders such as soap industry which will provide two-way benefits to the industry as it will be selling soaps while the public improve hygiene and reduce diarrheal diseases.

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