Keep your medicine cabinet well stocked

Recently, my neighbour Rita’s three-year old daughter caught a fever and also complained of a throbbing headache very late in the night with the nearest health facility closed. Worst still, Rita didn’t have a thermometer to check the daughter’s temperature or even painkillers to relieve the headache.This incident got me thinking about how some medical tools and drugs are extremely vital in case of emergencies. There are some indispensable medical implements that come in very handy incase of any emergency at home.According to Diana Umulisa, a businesswoman in Kabeza and a mother of four, every household should have a clinical thermometer.“There are times a child is very sick and you might think it’s just minor because the child may not be able to speak or might be afraid to tell you they are feeling very ill because of their fear of injections. However, if you keep a thermometer in the house you will be able to check the child’s temperature before going to the hospital,” Umulisa says.Some cotton wool, plaster and gauze for dressing up wounds also come in very handy. This is especially good for mothers with children who, more often than adults, are susceptible to wounds because they are always playing and falling.Jennifer Kabatesi, a mother of two and a third year medical student in Uganda, advises every woman to keep painkillers in her house and handbag.“These are very helpful for the whole family.However, women should have them near since we are victims of cramps during menstruation and also suffer frequent stress headaches”, Kabatesi says.Antiseptics for wounds should also be available in every woman’s equipment, according to Kabatesi. She advises that medication and equipment should be kept far out of children’s reach. Everywoman should have both first aid equipment and knowledge at the tip of their fingers. Next time your child or spouse catches a fever, you can check their temperature before worrying about whether they are very ill or not.