Diarrheal Diseases

Agents educate their communities about hand washing and good personal hygiene

Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in young children, killing close to 1.5 million children every year globally. It is also the leading cause of malnutrition in young children. To prevent cases of diarrhea, Living Goods agents educate their clients on the importance of hand washing, good personal hygiene, and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life. Our agents also sell water purification products to ensure water is safe to drink. To treat cases of diarrhea, Living Goods agents distribute zinc supplements and oral rehydration salts (ORS). ORS treats dehydration associated with diarrhea while zinc supplements reduce the duration and severity of episodes of diarrhea. The World Health Organization endorses the combination therapy of zinc and ORS as the leading treatment for childhood diarrhea.