Educational Day for Community Health Promoters

During a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, three professionals with ICC USA provided a day of educational for ICC DR for over 50 health promoters. Each presentation a section of education in response of a request from the health promoter supervisors with ICC DR. Dr. Jeannine Hatt, an ICC USA board member and pediatrician from Wichita Falls, TX, ICC USA Board Vice President Dr. Ellen Palmer, an RN and MSN PhD. from McKinney, TX, as well as Paula Manley LMSW, ACSW, BCD, and ICC USA Board Affiliate from Parchment, MI participated in the instructional day.

Dr. Hatt reviewed the basic of good nutrition for all ages. She also reviewed the management of common nutritional deficiencies and maturation, and answered questions about signs and symptoms of deficiencies. Dr. Hatt discussed the signs and symptoms of Swine flu as well as an update on the presence of a global update an outbreak. Prevention of disease was well received.

Paula presented a two part presentation to 40 health providers. The first presentation was "Understanding Child Abuse."  The health promoters members learned about the types of child abuse, behaviors children might exhibit and the emotional impact of abuse for a child. 

The second presentation "Stress and the Special Child-Helping Parents Cope" dealt with the stresses of parenting a child with a disability.  Paula discussed the feelings and expectations of parents for the child; effects on the siblings and rest of the family and ways to help parents manage stresses.  The health promoters engaged in a thoughtful discussion, asking questions and sharing their experiences on working with families with these concerns.

Ellen presented the dilemma of tuberculosis (TB) infections globally. The presentation was signs and symptoms and treatment of children with TB.  Children and adults signs and symptoms of TB are different.  The long term effects of TB in children can cause deafness, blindness and/or totally paralyzed from TB meningitis, even after TB is cured. The spread of tuberculosis infection to the bone can cause deformities of the spine (hunchback) or other permanent disabilities.

The diagnosis of tuberculosis in children, the treatment and the prevention was presented and discussed. A discussion of the side effects of TB medicines include, but not limited to: nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred vision or color-blindness, loss of appetite, tiredness without reason, yellow color of the eyes or skin, dark (coffee-colored) urine, fever, rash, or itching, and tingling or burning feeling in hands or feet.

The three presenters provided funds for the break, lunch and transportation for the health promoters.