Agents of H.E.A.L.T.H.

AGENTS OF H. E. A. L. T. H.

the future of an epidemic

when us vir rota ks! attac

A futuristic tale about diarrhea prevention by students from the american international school of bamako & students from N'tjiproko, soma niakate, & Alfousseyni kante de sikoro schools in Mali, West a Africa

AGENTS OF H. E. A. L. T. H.

the future of an epidemic A futuristic tale about diarrhea prevention By grade 4 & 5 students at the american international school of Bamako, Mali, west africa AISB Instructor: Jeff Fessler aisb classroom assistant: Ben amegatsey AISB Director: Caroline jacoby french translation: isabelle Thomazeau-pepin & ousmane barry Abbah nuhu Abraham diarra aisha gbepo alicia ramos garcia Andreas Andersen

anouk ganga Students: binyam AISB shewayrga charity nuhu clara saiel eva palacios

Liv coro malika keita mathies dicko mell mboah nil palacios

papi sow segni traore Shima Sarah Claire Soraya keita yasmina troare

and grade 4 to 8 students at the private elementary schools n'tjiproko, soma niakate, & alfousseyni kante de sikoro, mali, w Africa instructors: Abdoulaye Galo, Gouro Kane Diallo, Soma Lucien NiarÉ STUDENTS: Adam n'diaye amadou doau bakary f. kone (N'Fa) bilali diarra cheick kone

Djeneba diakatÉ Fanta dialla fatoumaa guindo gounidi n'diaye hamidou konatÉ

kadidia diarra kadidiatou sissoko kani sidibÉ kany kantÉ korotoumou bagayaka

zamine DembelÉ Loucmane dopo mohamed coulibaly mohamed KonÉ Modibo konÉ

mali health organizing project www.malihealth.org Mali Health’s mission is to reduce maternal and child mortality in resourcepoor communities in West Africa. To achieve this, Mali Health implements replicable programs that improve access to quality primary care at low costs, while increasing the capacity of and participation in local health systems.

mali health director: kris ansin programs director: Mariam fofana diallo community empowerment project coordinator: dramane diarra The American International School of bamako www.aisbmali.org aisb is a small international school with a very strong sense of community, educating students ages 2 - 18 years old. we welcome students from over 30 nationalities. We offer an american-style curriculum and our programs are designed to educate the whole child. students in high school have the opportunity to take advanced placement exams. The language of instruction is english and all students also learn french.

IN THE 2113, SIKORO AND ALL OF BAMAKO ARE IN RUINS. THAT’S BECAUSE NEARLY 100 YEARS BEFORE, PEOPLE WERE CARELESS AND DIDN’T TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO KEEP THEMSELVES OR THEIR ENVIRONMENT HEALTHY.

Back in those days, people practiced open defecation, and did not cover their food, toilets, and wells—allowing flies to carry germs between these places.

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The water also became contaminated because the toilets and the wells were built right next to each other. They even built toilets in high spots where the contaminated water could easily flow down and infect wells.

They didn’t wash their hands after using the toilet or changing a baby’s diapers, which meant many germs were passed between people.

Believe it or not, they didn’t even get the vaccine that could prevent Rotavirus, the worst form of diarrhea.

Rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea, spread everywhere. Because feces was everywhere on the ground outside. And since the feces of an infected person contains TEN trillion infectious particles per gram, nearly everyone became sick.

Hi! I'm rotavirus. I was named after the Latin word for wheel (rota) because of my shape.

Meanwhile, in a secret underground laboratory in Sikoro, a group of infection fighters known as the Agents of HEALTH (Helping Every African Learn To be Healthy) worked to combat the epidemic that was devastating the people of 2113.

I am Abdul, the leader of the Agents of H.E.A.L.T.H.

This is Oumou, the courageous.

And this is Hawa, the caring

This is Keita, the brainy.

Keita, Things are completely out of control in Sikoro! Everyone is suffering from diarrhea, and so many are dying.

Hawa, this is a tragedy because diarrhea is an easily preventable disease!

Oumou, did you know that back in 2010, almost 18,000 Malian children under five died from diarrhea? Can you imagine how many die today?

I have calculated the data and discovered that back in 2014 there were two billion cases of diarrhea around the world.

Today, in 2113, it is quadruple that!

Keita, this is a difficult problem because there are so many causes of diarrhea, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

I know Abdul, but Rotavirus is the worst!

You’re right!

Back in 2010 Rotavirus killed 7,200 Malian children under five. Today, it’s so many more.

Once the Rotavirus makes its way to your mouth, the problems begin‌

1. Once the virus enters the mouth it makes its way to the small intestine.

2. The virus attaches to the cells in the wall of the small intestine.

3. The virus enters the cytoplasm, the gel-like substance inside the cell.

4. Thousands of new viruses are made, poisoning the cells and causing fluid to be released from the intestinal tissue.

5. Dead cells and stomach fluids exit the body as diarrhea.

There are many ways to get this virus. For example, every time we walk through human or animal waste outside on the ground, we can pick up the virus.

Waste is full of germs—it’s like a germ bomb!

And you can even get the virus from something as simple as shaking hands with someone.

We all shake hands, which means we can pick up germs .

Then if we touch our mouth we get sick. Or if we prepare food without washing our hands, we pass the virus to others.

People just have to remember to ALWAYS wash their hands at three critical times: after using the toilet, before touching food, and after changing a baby’s diapers.

It was time to go above ground and remind people how to stay healthy. So, we packed all of our gear: germ-proof protective suits, helmets, Aquatabs water purification tablets, chlorine treated water, soap, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), and zinc tablets.

As we were preparing our supplies, a person near the door of our underground lab relieved himself on the street instead of going to a toilet facility. Within minutes we heard a buzzing sound, and it grew louder.

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The feces attracted a massive swarm of giant flies! 100 years ago these were normal-sized flies. But because there was so much waste and uncovered toilets, they morphed into giant insects over the years. Now we have daily battles with these dangerous pests.

These things are covered with rotavirus!

As we were fighting the flies, a few shadowy figures approached. It was the dreaded Dirty Hand Tribe! Over the years people hand such dirty hands that they morphed into towering, filthy creatures who spread germs throughout the land.

I'M out of chlorine!

Back to the lab, and quickly!

We ran as fast as a shooting star from the Dirty Hands Tribe back to the lab.

That was close, Abdul!

sure was. Boy am i hungry after all of that work.

unfortunately i was so hungry I just splashed water on my hands for a few seconds and didn't use soap.

Then I ate my lunch, picking up my food with my fingers—fingers that still had germs on them!

Two days later I was feeling terrible. First I vomited. Then I raced to the toilet over and over—at least 3 times—and had a very watery stool. My eyes and stomach were sunken. I cried from pain but no tears came. I was just so tired, and had a low-grade fever.

Abdul, you have the symptoms of diarrhea!

You are so dehydrated as well. That can lead to death!

For children, Diarrhea often leads to malnutrition which also can cause death.

My team knew the symptoms of rotavirus‌do you?

headache

low grade fever

runny or stuffy nose

few or no tears

sunken eyes & abdomen

vomiting lethargy dry mouth & tongue

no appetite

abdominal pain

3 or more watery stools

The other agents checked inside my body using our high tech medical scanner.

I’m sorry, Abdul.

It's just what we thought.

You definitely have a case of Rotavirus.

My colleagues ran around like crazy trying to find supplies to help me feel better, such as Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and zinc tablets.

Nothing in the supply drawers. What are we going to do to help Abdul?

We have to act fast. He is getting worse by the minute.

I wish we could go back In time and fix all of the problems that led to this mess.

If only it was that easy‌.

Wait a minute‌it IS that easy! I can build a time machine with a few things we have around the lab!

Keita and his team worked nonstop to build the time machine.

Oumou even risked her life above ground to find a few spare mechanical parts to make the machine operate.

At last it was ready, a real time machine that could transport them back 99 years.

Wow! We did it! Now we can’t waste a single minute. Let’s get on board.

I told Abdul we would be back soon, so we have to work fast!

Just minutes later they appeared in Sikoro in the year 2014. They found themselves just outside of a school, and as they walked around their strange clothes attracted a crowd.

Who are you?

Where are you from?

The future? That must be awesome!

We are the Agents of H.E.A.L.T.H.! This may sound strange, but we are from 99 years in the future‌

There is a Rotavirus epidemic. We live in a wasteland.

Actually, it's e! Here, I’ll use ribl hor my wrist projector to show you our future world.

but kids, with your help we can reverse this terrible future

You can take precautions now for a better future.

First, make sure you get the Rotavirus vaccination so you never get this horrible illness.

It's free at the clinic!

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wash your hands! Even something this simple makes a big difference!

1. Wet hands

3. Wash between the fingers, under the nails, and on the back of the hand for about 20 seconds.

2. take soap

4. Rinse and dry with towel or air dry.

keep flies from transmitting germs from place to place by doing the following‌..

Cover your wells.

Cover your food.

Cover toilets.

Wash your fruits and vegetables with a chlorinebased product like Javel.

It kills all the germs that can cause diarrhea,

When building wells and toilets, keep them at least ten meters or more apart. Otherwise the toilet will contaminate the well.

WELL

toileT

That way the well water stays safe and clean.

And always, always build the wells in the highest area, and toilets in the lowest area.

For the water in your fivegallon containers at home, add Aquatabs to kill the germs.

OKay Agents of h.e.a.l.t.h.! We promise to follow all of your advice. and we will spread the word to everyone we know. We want a healthy future!

Next the three agents headed toward a local clinic.

Let’s help the patients with diarrhea understand how to treat their illness.

You’re right.

There is no cure for diarrhea, but there are ways to make the patient feel better and get better quicker.

Without proper treatment, the diarrhea only gets worse.

Once inside, they share good advice.

First, always follow your doctor’s orders!

Drink Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) to replace the sugar and salt that you’ve lost.

It’s a powder you buy at the pharmacy, then you just add water and drink.

Take zinc tablets too. You also get these at the pharmacy. They shorten the time you have diarrhea and prevent you from getting it again in the months afterwards.

You also need to drink water‌ lots of it! This will rehydrate your body and keep everything inside working.

Eat nutritious foods as well to put nutrients back in your body that were lost during your illness.

Finally, the agents returned to the time machine, set the dial for 2113, and in a few minutes were back to the future. But things looked a bit different this time‌..

Look at how beautiful Sikoro is now!

Finally, the agents returned to the time machine, set the dial for 2113, and in a few minutes were back to the future. But things looked a bit different this time…..

I guess those kids in the past followed our advice!

Good work Agents of HEALTH! Not only did you save me, but you saved Sikoro too! It’s hard to believe that just a few simple steps can prevent a catastrophe in the future.

But our job isn’t done. We must continue our mission to keep healthy.

Here’s to a healthy and happy world!