Every year internationally, 1.5 million children die from diarrheal dehydration. That’s more children dying than the total number of Canadian children under 5 years old. What’s truly tragic is how preventable these deaths really are. In studying today, I ran across a set of guidelines published by the WHO for case management of diarrhea:

1. Prevent dehydration by educating parents on how to treat diarrhea at home (fluids, and good nutrition)
2. When dehydration occurs, treat with oral rehydration solution.
3. Feed appropriately both during and after diarrhea.
4. Provide antibiotics for suspected cholera, shigella dysentary, or typhoid fever.

It has been estimated that these four guidelines could prevent 90% of deaths from diarrhea dehydration. That’s 1.35 million children. So simple (no special training required for the first three guidelines, and the fourth can be performed by just about any healthcare worker), yet the barriers are numerous. Some obvious barriers are the lack of access to clean water for rehydration and inability to pay for good nutrition.

Coming to the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto this Friday is World Vision’s ‘One Life Experience’. Here’s the promotional video. The walk-through exhibit with audioguide puts you into the shoes of an African child, and explores the impact of HIV and AIDS on just one life.

It’s a powerful exhibit. If you are anywhere near Toronto and have just an hour spare, do check it out – admission is free. It runs from Thursday June 26 to Tuesday July 1, 10 am to 11 pm. Thursday is for World Vision child sponsors only, but if you come after 4 pm, I’ll be there volunteering and can give you one of my tickets. For further event details: here.