I was luckily invited by my friend, Joy Mendiola of Occasions of Joy, to be part of the discussion of a trending topic in the field of medicine-- Pneumococcal Disease or PD. It may sound like a long and complicated term, but learning was made fun through an activity called PLAY.
Each year, roughly a million children die from Pneumococcal Diseases or PDs, and 48% of Asian parents admit that they know nothing about these diseases. Since the disease is considered as the #1 killer of children less than 5 years of age worldwide, it's no surprise that this silent pandemic, while preventable, is still quietly spreading its wrath.
Pneumococcal Diseases include invasive ones also known as IPD such as meningitis, sepsis, bacteremia, and pneumonia, and other common diseases such as acute otitis media (middle ear infection).
AOM-- Acute Otitis Media, more commonly known as an infection of the middle ear, causes 20 million doctor visits annually. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), it is the most common reason for antibiotic treatment in infants and young children. A fever, headache, cough, irritability, and pain in the ears are common symptoms of this disease. AOM is also highly preventable through vaccination.
The moms and kids of PLAY were treated to an afternoon of learning through the activities that tickled their imagination and competitiveness. A doctor also gave a talk to answer all of the parents' concerns about PD. And then, we were put to the test during the Puzzle Game and Guess the Word challenges, while our children had free reign of the play area. It ended with a pledge to PLAY, a promise of all the participants to protect their health and keep on learning and with a full head of knowledge.
For more information, visit www.mommymundo.com/vaccinate.
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