HEALTH AND HYGIENE

èINTRODUCTION

Hygiene (which comes from the name of the Greek goddess of health, Hygieia), is a set of practices performed for the preservation of health. Whereas in popular culture and parlance it can often mean mere 'cleanliness', hygiene in its fullest and original meaning goes much beyond that to include all circumstances and practices, lifestyle issues, premises and commodities that engender a safe and healthy environment. While in modern medical sciences there is a set of standards of hygiene recommended for different situations, what is considered hygienic or not can vary between different cultures, genders and etarian groups. Some regular hygienic practices may be considered good habits by a society while the neglect of hygiene can be considered disgusting, disrespectful or even threatening.

Hygiene is an old concept related to medicine, as well as to personal and professional care practices related to most aspects of living. In medicine and in home (domestic) and everyday life settings, hygiene practices are employed as preventative measures to reduce the incidence and spreading of disease. In the manufacture of food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other products, good hygiene is a key part of quality assurance i.e. ensuring that the product complies with microbial specifications appropriate to its use.

èGROWING MEDICAL PLANTS

Medicinal plants have been identified and used throughout human history. Plants have the ability to synthesize a wide variety of chemical compounds that are used to perform important biological functions, and to defend against attack from predators such as insects, fungi and herbivorous mammals. At least 12,000 such compounds have been isolated so far; a number estimated to be less than 10% of the total. Chemical compounds in plants mediate their effects on the human body through processes identical to those already well understood for the chemical compounds in conventional drugs; thus herbal medicines do not differ greatly from conventional drugs in terms of how they work. This enables herbal medicines to be as effective as conventional medicines, but also gives them the same potential to cause harmful side effects.

è1. Aloe Vera

The aloe vera grows only under the sun with well drained dry or moist soil. Although the plant tastes like turd, it’s still edible. The sap from aloe vera is extremely useful to speed up the healing and reducing the risk of infections for :

Wounds, cuts, burns, eczema, reducing, inflammation

Apart from its external use on the skin, aloe vera is also taken internally in the treatment of :

ulcerative colitis (drinking aloe vera juice)

chronic constipation, poor appetite, digestive problems.

è2. Marsh Mallow

The plant of which marshmallows were once made of. The root is taken internally to treat :

inflammations and irritations of the urinary and respiratory mucus membranes,

counter excess stomach acid, peptic ulceration, gastritis,

Externally, the root is applied to :

Bruises, Sprains, aching muscles, insect bites, skin inflammations, splinters,

The leaves are very edible, unlike the aloe vera. They can be added to salads, boiled, or fried. It is known to help out in the area of cystitis and frequent urination.

è3. Gotu Kola

The gotu kola acts on various phases of connective tissue development and stimulates healing of :

Ulcers, skin injuries, decreasing capillary fragility, stimulation of the lipids and protein necessary for healthy skin. Leaves are thought to maintain youthfulness. Crushed leaves are poulticed to treat open sores. The gotu kola can also be used to :

treat leprosy, revitalize the brain and nervous system, increase attention span and concentration, treat venous insufficiency.

è4. Camomile

With a sweet, crisp, fruity and herbaceous fragrance, has long been used medicinally as a remedy for problems regarding the digestive system. It has a soothing and calming effect in the area of aromatherapy, used to end stress and aid in sleep. The entire herb is used to treat common aches like toothache, earache, shoulder pain and neuralgia.

è5. Chinese Yam

A type of yam that can be eaten raw, the Chinese yam can be easily grown, succeeding in fertile, well drained soil in a sunny position. It is sweet and soothing to the stomach, spleen and has a tonic effect on the lungs and kidneys. It is used internally to treat :

Tiredness, weight loss, loss of appetite, poor digestion, chronic diarrhea, asthma, dry coughs, uncontrollable urination, diabetes, emotional instability,

Externally, it is applied to :

Ulcers, Boils, Abscesses, The leaf, on the other hand, is used to treat snakebites and scorpion stings.

è ERADICATION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Over 13 million people die each year from infectious and parasitic diseases: one in two deaths in some developing countries. Poor people, women, children, and the elderly are the most vulnerable. Infectious diseases continue to be the world's leading killer of young adults and children. In Ethiopia many studies and reports indicate that communicable diseases account for more than 85% of the diseases seen in the health institutions.

Diseases or infections for intensified control include intestinal parasitoses, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma and trypanasomiasis. Dracunculiasis is targeted for eradication and leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis are targeted for elimination at global or regional level. Although almost all of the above diseases are prevalent in Ethiopia to various degrees, national control or eradication strategies exist only for the few. Most of these diseases cause lifelong disability and serious social and economical problems but in spite of this usually attract little media and donor attention. However, effective and cheap interventions are available for most of them.

Dealing with these neglected diseases needs strong vector control, surveillance systems, community mobilization, involvement and capacity building and emphasis on communicable diseases in complex emergencies. Strengthening of health systems and better use of existing tools is crucial to prevent, control and ultimately eliminate these diseases as major public health problems.

èPARAMEDICAL SERVICES

The paramedic is a healthcare professional who works in emergency medical situations. A paramedic may be more formally defined as a medical professional who provides medical care to sustain life in the pre-hospital environment, usually in an emergency, at the point of illness or injury. This includes an initial assessment of the patient after a particular health crisis. Treatment can also be continued en route to a hospital if more definitive care for the patient is required. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as cycle response. Paramedics provide out-of-hospital treatment and diagnostic services,[1][2] although some may undertake hospital-based roles, such as in the treatment of injuries