E-drug: Re: Emcouraging pediatricians to recommend ORT (cont'd)
----------------------------------------------------------
I have read with interest the messages of Dr. Malpani and David Bratt
regarding the difficulty in getting pediatricians to prescribe Oral
Rehydration Therapy, and the recommendation to take the message directly to
mothers, who are much more responsive, especially when they see the results.
I agree strongly with this observation and recommendation.
However, rather than encouraging mothers to buy ORS packets, which often
leaves less money for feeding already undernourished children, in many
circumstances it makes more sense to teach mothers to prepare a homemade
cereal-based drink. This can be cheaper and more effective (in terms of
combating dehydration and reducing amount of diarrhea) than the standard
sugar (glucose or sucrose) based drinks.
All this is discussed in our challenging new book "Questioning the Solution:
The Politics of Primary Health Care and Child Survival, with an in depth
critique of oral rehydration" by David Werner and David Sanders, published
and available through HealthWrights for US$18 plus $5 shipping cost. For
more information see our web site.:
www.healthwrights.org
Best wishes, David Werner (author of "Where There Is No Doctor)
HealthWrights
Workgroup for People's Health and Rights
964 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto CA 94301
USA
Telephone: 650 325-7500
Fax: 650 325 1080
email: healthwrights@igc.org
http://www.healthwrights.or
--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.