These children's books debunk health myths

MANILA, Philippines - Public elementary school children in a fishing town in Quezon province were introduced to the unforgettable world of Super Boy, Maki, and other storybook characters. Global healthcare leader MSD brought health information to Barra by donating health storybooks that discuss health myths commonly encountered by Filipino children, and the truth behind those myths. Intended to start children early on health literacy, the books contain stories of winners in the Gawad Panitikang Pangkalusugan of the medical sorority Mu Sigma Phi,.

In the book 5 Seconds Only, Jenny, against her mother’s advice, eats a candy that fell on the floor because of the common-held belief that food that dropped to the ground is still clean since “wala pang five seconds na nahulog, puede pa.” Her stubbornness leads to a difficult bout with diarrhea. Her town mates are then educated on the importance of good hygiene and sanitation to prevent diarrhea and other similar diseases.

Most Filipinos believe that being drenched in the rain causes one to get sick. In Spirit of the Rain, it is explained that playing in the rain does not make one sick; rather, one may contract coughs and colds when one comes into contact with a person who is infected with the virus.

Childhood obesity is given prominence in The Untold Story of Super Boy. Filipino parents are happy when their children get praised for being mataba. The book disputes the myth that “mataba is malusog” and emphasizes that exercise and eating the right kinds of food are necessary for good health.

Families in Barra were also introduced to Grace and Maki, two kids who have cerebral palsy and Down’s Syndrome. In Crooked, Maya at first finds Grace, a girl with cerebral palsy, strange and weird. After seeing how cerebral palsy affects Grace, Maya understands and accepts Grace for who she is. Maki’s Colorful World depicts a boy with Down’s Syndrome who has exceptional talent in the arts. The book shows that children with certain conditions or impairments can be gifted, too, and should be treated no differently from other kids.

 In collaboration with the Early Childhood Care and Development and with support from Mayor Barbara Talaga of Lucena, MSD and Mu Sigma Phi were able to conduct basic lectures for the mothers on proper hygiene and other relevant topics such as cervical cancer. The city’s 300 barangay health workers and public school teachers were also given health storybooks and coached on incorporating proper health principles and practices in the conduct of their profession.

Read this: A child of Barra, Quezon enjoys a health storybook, marveling at the adventures of new characters she just met.

MSD believes in planting the roots of health literacy while children are still young to instill in them health-seeking behaviors creating a healthier generation. More read-along and book donation drives will be conducted by MSD in coordination with local government units in the coming months.

For more information on MSD, visit www.msd.com or www.msd.com.ph.