A Family I Care For

Issa and Massiri came to see me last week. They are a married couple with three young children who I have helped a lot over the years. Issa is a farmer and Massiri is a housewife. They are both illiterate. I am pleased that they have listened to my advice about how to care for their children. Massiri fed her babies only breast milk for the first six months, and then she started giving them good food like porridge, beans and fruits. The three children have all been immunized and are generally in good health, but their youngest boy has been ill with diarrhea a lot. His name is Diakaridia and he is 2 years old. Last week when they brought him to me, he had been sick for two weeks already. Massiri tried to cure him at home, but the medicine she gave him did not work. Massiri was very anxious when she saw me because the boy has had diarrhea so many times before. I examined Diakaridia and found he had no other signs of disease. I gave him oral rehydration solution and 10 zinc tablets. After a few days, he was cured.