| As disease patterns in Rhodesia change rapidly, so must methods of health care delivery. Measles, bronchopneumonia, and gastroenteritis have replaced smallpox and poliomyelitis as the most common causes of death. Malnutrition contributes significantly in these deaths, however, and often goes unrecognized as the true killer. The cooperation of the people must be enlisted in combatting malnutrition. Traditional diets must be modified, personal and domestic hygiene learned, and safe water used. Health education has a major role to play in attaining these objectives. In this respect, the work of the rural nurse in the maternal and child welfare clinic is important, since she has the advantage of being close to the villagers and is in a position to promote disease prevention and health and family planning education. |