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Contagious Diseases
Tuberculosis is one of the contagious diseases in South Africa that claims the most lives. It can be prevented through vaccination.
This disease attacks any part of the body, but the lungs are the most vulnerable. The disease is spread mainly through droplets of spit when someone coughs or sneezes. Cows are also carriers of this disease. People get the germs when they drink milk from an infected cow.
A symptom of the disease is a chronic cough. People who suffer from TB sometimes cough up blood, and they also experience chest pains. Weight loss and night sweats are experienced later. If this disease is diagnosed early, it can be treated quite successfully. Clinics throughout the country have projects that assist in preventing, identifying and treating the disease.
Cholera is often called the “silent killer”. The germ is found in contaminated water. Unfortunately the rivers and dams in large parts of our country are infected with cholera germs. Where there is no running water available, the danger exists that people may drink infected water from streamlets and shallow dams in the area. People from communities where human waste is dumped in the water, are especially threatened by this deadly disease.
It is essential that water should be purified if there is a possibility that cholera germs have contaminated it. Before water is safe to drink, it must be purified. Here are three ways in which water can be purified:
By storing water, a permanent supply of clean water is made possible. When the water has been standing in a clean container for a while, the impurities settle at the bottom of the container, and the water is already cleaner.
Filtration takes place when a slow stream of water is poured through clean sand. An easier but more expensive way to purify water is by using filter paper.
When water is boiled to destroy germs and parasites, sterilisation takes place. Water is safe for drinking once it has been boiled. Chemicals such as chlorine can also be used to purify water.
Carefully (while wearing gloves) scoop water from a local river or dam and filter and purify it by using the three processes mentioned above. Even if you have followed these three processes, it is best not to drink the water at all. Rather ask your science teacher to test it for impurities.
In South Africa more than three million people are presently HIV positive. This disease affects men, women and children of all ages, occupations and population groups in all the provinces of our country. If the present increase in infection does not abate, one out of four people in the country will be HIV positive by the year 2010. Within 10 years the disease will have caused three-quarters of a million South African children to become orphans.
How to prevent yourself from contracting this deadly virus:
Regard this problem as extremely serious and make sure that you know how the disease is spread.
Make use of every possible opportunity to gain more knowledge of the disease.
Sex must be safe, but should be delayed for as long as possible anyway.
Never come into contact with blood. If somebody gets hurt and bleeds, it is better to call an adult to help. If there is a possibility that you might touch the blood, draw a plastic bag that has no holes in it, over each hand. However, it is better to wear plastic gloves.
Never use old or previously used hypodermic needles or other old needles in any way.
If you want to have your ears pierced, or have some part of your body tattooed, make sure that it is done at a clean, respectable place where the needles and instruments are sterilised.
It is advisable to avoid all alcohol and drugs altogether, because using these substances weakens your capacity to protect yourself against infection with the virus.
LO 1
HEAlTH PROMOTION
The learner will be able to make informed decisions regarding personal, community and environmental health.
We know this when the learner:
1.1 explores and reports on ways to protect the quality of food and water in various contexts;
1.2 investigates a local environmental health problem using different data sources, and plans a strategy to address the problem;
1.3 recognises the symptoms and causes of locally occurring diseases and discusses prevention strategies;
1.4 explains the individual health and social effects of substance abuse.
Life Orientation for Grade 5 consists of a number of modules focussing on:
4. Physical development and movement
The first modules, 1-7, prepare the learners to be responsible consumers and to make sound, informed choices regarding their own diets. They are also made increasingly aware of health risks in their own environment and of their responsibilities regarding the maintenance of balanced ecosystems. While there was merely a brief reference to certain children’s rights in Grade 4, the Grade 5 learners are now given the opportunity to focus on their rights and duties as citizens of the country. The sensitive issue of child abuse is also broached. Educators must realise that they have a great responsibility as consultants, confidants and counsellors in this regard. It is here that serious problems can be identified and prevented. It is essential that educators should know the correct procedure should they have to deal with a case of child abuse. During discussions on contagious diseases educators are also in a position to play an important role in preventing life-threatening diseases such as TB, cholera and aids by approaching these topics with the necessary seriousness.
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