PARENTS URGED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM COLD WEATHER

Toddlers of Hana Kindergarten& Day Care during break time

By Rijoo Gladys

Moyo

Parents in Moyo District have been urged to take extra precautions to protect their children from the ongoing cold weather, which could expose them to various health complications.

The appeal comes as the district continues to experience unusually cold mornings during the rainy season, raising concern among health workers over an increase in cold-related illnesses among children.

Speaking to Radio Pacis Newsroom, Angu Joseph, a nutritionist at Moyo Mission Health Centre IV, advised parents to keep children warm by dressing them in appropriate clothing, providing nutritious meals, and seeking medical attention promptly whenever they show signs of illness.

“The possible health risks the children are likely to face during this rainy season and coldness, one is hypothermia, and hypothermia is actually low body temperature, a dangerous drop in body temperature that can cause shivering, confusion drowsiness and in severe causes unconsciousness,”

He added that the cold weather could actually trigger asthma attack or breathing difficulty, coldness can also cause chest infection, children maybe at a great risk of pneumonia.

Angu appealed to parents to always dress the children in thick layer clothes instead of one, make sure they put on hard gloves, warm socks and water prove shoes or gumboots at home and those ones in nursery.

Parents can also keep their children dry by removing wet clothes and then limit the amount of time children spend outside especially in cold or windy weathers.

Meanwhile a parent and catechist, Enno Pasqualino, echoed the call, encouraging fellow parents to remain vigilant and ensure their children are well protected from the cold, especially during the early morning and evening hours

“Practically this time we are talking about the prevention from cold because we know that cold can bring cough, fever so as parents, when our children are going to school, they should have sweaters and foot wears, the foot wears should be the proper one and if necessary let the children be on beds covered well at night while at home so that they are protected from coldness,” said Enno.

However, Nyiranyia Izabella, the Deputy Head teacher of Hana Nursery and Primary School, explained that the school has put measures in place to protect learners during the cold weather, including encouraging warm dressing and monitoring children’s health while at school.

“we are trying our level best with the learners to make sure we protect them from the coldness and we even provide school sweaters at school we emphasize the children to always put on the school sweaters whenever they are coming to school so that pneumonia cannot attack them whenever it is cold,” emphasized Nyiranyia.

Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to cold weather during the rainy season can weaken children’s immunity, making them more vulnerable to illnesses such as coughs, flu, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections.

Parents are therefore encouraged to keep children warm, maintain good nutrition, and observe proper hygiene to reduce the risk of illness.