More FBT

So here are a few more pictures of our adventures during FBT (Field Based Training) where we had 9 trainees come visit us to see just what life as a Healthy Schools volunteer is like!

Cristina and I started out with an explanation of what Healthy Schools is using this house to represnt the aspects of the program.
The foundation was made of a drop of water, a picture of chorros (water faucets) and a toothbrush. These elements are absolutely fundamental to the program and no one can be healthy without them. We explained that our job is help the communities get water and faucets in the schools so the kids can practice healthy habits such as handwashing and teeth brushing. Their job as parents is to provide the toothbrushes and paste and towels and other items one needs to practice these habits.



The walls of the house were made of health lessons. If the students don't really understand what parasites are or how one can get diarrhea, they won't see the importance of the health habits.

Finally the roof is made of the healthy habits in the house and at school. Many parents themselves don't have healthy habits and therefore don't insist that their kids do. Encouraging parents to wash their hands with their kids, send them to school clean and buy them the items they need to practice healthy habits is all part of their responsibilities as parents.

This group of trainees did a skit using a fresh egg and an egg that had been soaked in a cup of coca-cola. This demonstrates the harm that sugary things do to our teeth.

As part of their section on dental health, the trainees had the moms use homemade toothbrushes and homemade toothepaste (that they made during the meeting) to brush the egg/tooth. Everyone could see the difference brushing made and how if resources are low, one can use items found around the house to make toothpaste and toothbrushes! Having interactive health lessons with parents is an important part of the Healthy Schools program. Otherwise, the students will only practice the habits at school and continue with poor health habits at home.

This group was responsible for talking to the moms about a homemade rehydration solution made of salt, sugar and water and most importantly explaining why it's important to make sure your child is taking in fluids when they are sick. (some people believe that a child shouldn't eat or drink when sick.) It was a cute demonstration because they used a bag of water as the child. It had a face and body parts etc. The child becomes sick and start vomiting and having diarrhea and crying etc. The trainees poked holes in the bag at the child's mouth and eyes and butt (the moms thought it was hilarious!) to represent how the child loses fluids. If the child continues losing fluids without the mom replenishing the supply, the moms noted that the child will die. It was a messy but fun way to illustrate health concepts to moms who have probably never though of illness affecting their children in that way.

We had a great time!