\ AUM Faith for Life Handbook for Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh Religious Leaders. Taking Lead In Maternal & Child Survival Technical Content: Sunil Shah Scriptural Content: Sunil Shah, Pandit Narendraji and Prof. Vyas. Design & Layout: Forward Vision Communications First Edition Published in 2010 The use of the Faith for Life Handbook for education or information purposes, including reproduction and translation, is encouraged. Acknowledgement and credit should be given to this publication. The publisher would appreciate knowing about such uses, reproduction or translations. Please inform the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) Mararo Road, off Gitanga Road, Nairobi, Kenya, P.O. Box 6352 City Square 00200 Nairobi, Kenya. Email: [email protected] Tel: +254 20 386 1397 The publication is not to be used for commercial purposes. Emblems are not to be reproduced. HINDU, JAIN, BUDDHISTS AND SIKHS PROMOTING MATERNAL AND CHILD SURVIVAL: FAITH FOR LIFE I TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Foreword iii Preface v Acronyms vii About this handbook viii Acknowledgment ix Introduction xi CHAPTER 1 Health seeking behaviours 1 CHAPTER 2 Mother and Child Health Care 16 a. Care of pregnant women 16 b. Newborn care 20 CHAPTER 3 Mother and child nutrition 32 a. Good Nutrition 32 b. Exclusive breastfeeding 35 CHAPTER 4 Common childhood diseases 49 a. Malaria 49 c. Diarrhoea 59 b. Pneumonia 60 CHAPTER 5 HIV and PMTCT 62 a. HIV 62 b. PMTCT 65 CHAPTER 6 Early stimulation, child protection and care 71 CHAPTER 7 Water and Cleanliness 83 a. Safe drinking water 83 b. Cleanliness 85 CHAPTER 8 Role of Religious Leaders in Faith for Life 94 References 99 First Edition published in 2010 by the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya II FAITH FOR LIFE : HINDU, JAIN, BUDDHISTS AND SIKHS PROMOTING MATERNAL AND CHILD SURVIVAL FOREWORD It is because of the Supreme Brahman’s will and grace that this Handbook has been compiled. As an expression of our gratitude we chant the Gayatri Mantra and pray: “We pay obeisance and pray to the Supreme Brahman through the Sun Deity which represents the benevolent qualities of punctuality, selfless duty, self-sacrifice and enlightenment - to illumine and enrich us, through the fire of knowledge, with absolute cognition and determined faith in the Universal Brahman principles. We beg, through our devotion to righteousness, for God’s grace to grant us the nobility of forgiveness and repentance to cleanse and strengthen our faith and therefore our dedication to the divinity of the Brahmanic principles. In all surrender, we plead to be eternally guided by humility, righteousness and dharma in all our thought and work. Aum - Let there be peace in the universe, peace in the world and peace within me”. The Hindu faith for life book, a joint initiative of Hindu Council of Kenya, UNICEF, Ministry of Health (Kenya) and the Inter-religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) has been compiled to provide an understanding of the welfare and health of the child and mother based on scriptural exegesis. Inspired by the need to improve not just the survival but to foster proper upbringing and overall well-being of children, this project aims at improving the wholesome development and righteous relationship between mother and child through the meditative reflections of the spiritual sages etched in the Hindu holy scriptures. The Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK), a constituent member of IRCK, undertook to compile these scriptural dictates that serve to improve mother and child welfare. HCK intends that the religious prescriptions serve to improve not just the basic survival, but serve as a repository of values and best-practices that can greatly enhance the all-round relation and well-being of the mother and child. Hindus believe that faith and spiritual living unravels the deeper meaning of life and gifts bodily, emotional, intellectual and spiritual integration. HINDU, JAIN, BUDDHISTS AND SIKHS PROMOTING MATERNAL AND CHILD SURVIVAL: FAITH FOR LIFE III The Hindu culture and religion provides a holistic approach to life that includes the dharmic responsibilities and ideal way of being and living from birth to death and beyond as one reincarnates. The eternal reflections contained herein, from the Hindu scriptures, are just a handful from the expansive wisdom of the ancient Hindu masters that can expedite the overall welfare of mother and child through holistic and disciplined living. The reflections also serve to remove misconceptions and fears of diseases and even of death. The book has been compiled with contributions from numerous scholars and theologians based on relevant scriptural references. Indeed I would like to single out the enormous commitment and dedication exemplified by Sunil Shah, faithful scholar of Vedantic scriptures and Dharma and an expert in governance and elections, who championed this cause and elevated the Hindu Council status and honor in the face of challenges. Finally, a profound prayer that the Hindu Faith for Life compilations conveys practical and relevant guidance to all parents and comprehensively enhances the family well-being. Mr. S.B. Varma Chairman Hindu Council of Kenya. IV FAITH FOR LIFE : HINDU, JAIN, BUDDHISTS AND SIKHS PROMOTING MATERNAL AND CHILD SURVIVAL PREFACE Joint preface by UNICEF and IRCK The Faith for Life Handbook is a culmination of a long-standing partnership between the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and UNICEF. The partnership builds on the mandate, role and influence of leaders of the different faith communities to advocate for the rights of children in Kenya. Through this partnership, we have seen the important role that faith communities can play in contributing to reduction of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. The Child Survival and Development Strategy, launched in June 2009, also clearly articulates the role of partnerships, including faith communities, in increasing uptake of child survival and development services available at health facilities, and mobilising communities to adopt behaviours and practices at the household level that will ensure mothers and their children survive and thrive. The Faith for Life Initiative, jointly conceived and implemented by the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and UNICEF, seeks to ensure survival and development of children, with faith communities taking a leading role. The initiative is premised on the fact that proper upbringing and survival of children ensures a solid community of believers for tomorrow. Thus, leaders of faith communities have a critical role to ensure that children get the best opportunities in life for them to survive, develop and grow to their full potential. Cognisant of the overwhelming effects child survival, the faith community is expected to lead social change process by creating an open communication and support atmosphere about key developmental initiatives, including exclusive breastfeeding, disease prevention, immunisation, handwashing, nutrition, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, sanitation and health seeking behaviours. The Faith for Life Handbook is a compilation of appropriate messages on child survival and development, linked to the Muslim faith, which will be used by the faith communities for behaviour and social change communication. HINDU, JAIN, BUDDHISTS AND SIKHS PROMOTING MATERNAL AND CHILD SURVIVAL: FAITH FOR LIFE V Carefully selected verses from the Holy Bible, related to infant and young child feeding, disease prevention, hygiene and sanitation, have been compiled and provide the spiritual basis for romoting the high impact interventions outlined in the Child Survival and Development Strategy. Following each faith’s religious teachings, there is a separate set of communication material that will be disseminated. Leaders of faith communities will be able to use these theological reflections combined with technical information and actions to disseminate key messages during prayer and worship sessions. This work is the result of a comprehensive consultation process at all levels. Leading and key leadership of Muslim faith, specialists from the Ministry of Public health and Sanitation, partner organizations and UNICEF have participated and contributed in conceptualisation, endorsement and finalisation of this handbook. We would, therefore, like to extend our thanks to all of them. It is our hope that this work will support everyone, whether in a Mosque or homesteads, practically and passionately to ensure every child born in Kenya gets the best start in life, survives and thrives. Dr. Olivia Yambi Representative UNICEF, Kenya VI FAITH FOR LIFE : HINDU, JAIN, BUDDHISTS AND SIKHS PROMOTING MATERNAL AND CHILD SURVIVAL ACRONYMS ACT Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ANC Ante-Natal Care ARI Acute Respiratory Infection CSD Child Survival and Development Strategy CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child EAK Evangelical Alliance of Kenya F4L Faith for Life HCK Hindu Council of Kenya HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus HFS Health Facility Survey IMCI Integrated Management of Child Illness IMR Infant Mortality Rate IRCK Inter-Religious Council of Kenya IRS Indoor Residual Spraying KAIS Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey KDHS Kenya Demographic and Health Survey KEC-CS Kenya Episcopal Council Catholic Secretariat KFSSG Kenya Food Security Steering Group LBW Low Birth Weight MDG Millennium Development Goals MMR Maternal Mortality Rate MOM Ministry of Medical Services MOPH&S