Hypoglycaemia, hypothermia, birth asphyxia, septicaemia and pneumonia can be managed by encouragement of early and exclusive breast-feeding, maintaining body heat, clearing the airways and recognising and treating infection. Low birthweight and premature infant are vulnerable but can be managed using the kangaroo method where incubators are unavailable. New management regimes including early treatment of infections and micronutrient supplements have reduced mortality considerably. Tragically food shortage from civil unrest and climatic stress still leads to epidemics of severe malnutrition but many lives have been saved as a result of health professionals, many of them Christians, who leave their relatively secure jobs in the UK to serve in relief teams often in dangerous situations. UK based organisations working with local national churches, such as Tear Fund, have been particularly effective in recent years.
Micronutrient malnutrition is dangerous.
Cheap short course supplements of Zinc reduce the severity of diarrhoea and, when given prophylactically, reduces the prevalence of several childhood infections. While the health of the citizens of many countries is jeopardised by the enormous population pressure and overcrowding, there is at present, just about enough food being produced for the 6 billion world citizens of planet Earth. There are enormous challenges to researchers and some exciting technical possibilities, such as high vitamin A containing strains of rice. Health programmes will need to support the combination of improved diet, food fortification and micronutrient supplements if children are to develop to their potential. Trachoma can be reduced by combination of personal hygiene, fly control, primary eye care, antibiotics and health education.