Description

Where There Is No Doctor- A Village Health Care Handbook by David Werneris more than a book on first aid. It covers a wide range of things that affect the health of the villager – from diarrhea to tuberculosis, from helpful and harmful  home remedies to the cautious use of certain modern medicines. Special importance is placed on cleanliness, a healthy diet, and vaccinations. The book also covers in detail both childbirth and family planning. Not only does it help readers realize what they can do for themselves, but it helps them recognize which problems need the attention of an experienced health worker. This new revised edition includes information about some additional health problems – AIDS, dengue, complications from abortion, drug addiction, among many others – and updated advice on topics covered in the first edition. THIS BOOK IS FOR . . . THE VILLAGER who lives far from medical centers.It explains in simple words and drawings what he can do to prevent, recognize, and treat many common sicknesses.  There are TONS of Illustrations that make this book easy to digest and understand. It is not a ton of “doctor speak”… it really is for layman… and information great. Yes it is a bit outdated, but the general first aid information is very good. THE VILLAGE STOREKEEPER OR PHARMACIST who sells medicines and health-care supplies. The book explains which medicines are most useful for specific sicknesses and warns against ones that are useless or dangerous. Risks and precautions are carefully explained. Guidelines are given for the sensible use of both traditional and modern medicines.THE TEACHER in a rural school. The book will help him give practical advice and care to the sick and injured. It also gives guidelines for teaching children and adults in his community about the problems of health, cleanliness, and nutrition. THE VILLAGE HEALTH WORKER, or anyone who is concerned about the health and well-bein of those in her community. An introductory section for the village health worker discusses ways to determine needs, share knowledge, and involve the community in activities that can better people’s health. MOTHERS AND MIDWIVES will find useful the clear, easy-to-understand information for home birth, care of the mother, and child health.512 PAGESoverview of chapters…. not a complete listing of the contents of this book:WORDS TO THE VILLAGE HEALTH WORKERHOME CURES AND POPULAR BELIEFSSICKNESSES THAT ARE OFTEN CONFUSEDHOW TO EXAMINE A SICK PERSONHOW TO TAKE CARE OF A SICK PERSONHEALING WITHOUT MEDICINESRIGHT AND WRONG USE OF MODERN MEDICINESANTIBIOTICS: WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO USE THEMHOW TO MEASURE AND GIVE MEDICINEINSTRUCTIONS AND PRECAUTIONS FOR INJECTIONSFIRST AIDNUTRITION: WHAT TO EAT TO BE HEALTHYPREVENTION: HOW TO AVOID MANY SICKNESSESSOME VERY COMMON SICKNESSESSERIOUS ILLNESSES THAT NEED SPECIAL MEDICAL ATTENTIONSKIN PROBLEMSTHE EYESTHE TEETH, GUMS, AND MOUTHTHE URINARY SYSTEM AND THE GENITALSINFORMATION FOR MOTHERS AND MIDWIVES FAMILY PLANNING- HAVING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN YOU WANTHEALTH AND SICKNESSES OF CHILDREN HEALTH AND SICKNESSES OF OLDER PEOPLETHE MEDICINE KITTHE GREEN PAGES-The Uses, Dosage, and Precautions for MedicinesVOCABULARY-Explaining Difficult WordsINTRODUCTIONThis handbook has been written primarily for those who live far from medical centers, in places where there is no doctor. But even where there are doctors, people can and should take the lead in their own health care. So this book is .for everyone who cares. It has been written in the belief that: Health care is not only everyone’s right, but everyone’s responsibility. Informed self-care should be the main goal of any health program or activity. Ordinary people provided with clear, simple information can prevent and treat most common health problems in their own homes-earlier, cheaper, and often better than can doctors. Medical knowledge should not be the guarded secret of a select few, but should be freely shared by everyone. People with little formal education can be trusted as much as those with a lot. And they are just as smart. Basic health care should not be delivered, but encouraged. Clearly, a part of informed self-care is knowing one’s own limits. Therefore guidelines are included not only for what to do, but for when to seek help. The book points out those cases when it is important to see or get advice from a health worker or doctor. But because doctors or health workers are not always nearby, the book also suggests what to do in the meantime-even for very serious problems. This book has been written in fairly basic English, so that persons without much formal education (or whose first language is not English) can understand it. The language used is simple but, I hope, not childish. A few more difficult words have been used where they are appropriate or fit well. Usually they are used in ways that their meanings can be easily guessed. This way, those who read this book have a chance to increase their language skills as well as their medical skills. Important words the reader may not understand are explained in a word list or vocabulary at the end of the book. The first time a word listed in the vocabulary is mentioned in a chapter it is usually written in italics. Where There Is No Doctor was first written in Spanish for farm people in the mountains of Mexico where, 27 years ago, the author helped form a health care network now run by the villagers themselves. Where There Is No Doctor has been translated into more than 50 languages and is used by village health workers in over 100 countries.