Growing up healthy

Ensuring children’s survival, protection and healthy development

One of the major health issues last year was a dengue epidemic. Dengue fever, which can be fatal particularly to children, is spread by mosquitoes and is particularly prevalent in tropical regions where infected mosquitoes live and breed in poorly maintained water supplies.

Plan helped fight the disease by starting a project to increase awareness about preventative measures against dengue. The project taught children how to treat water to make it safe to drink.  As 12 year-old Guadalupe explained:

“I have learned to scrub pilas [water tanks] and barrels with chlorine to prevent dengue. You put chlorine in a sponge and scrub every week. Then, you can fill the pila with water.” 

Fewer children are now contracting dengue in this community.