If you are serious about “scripting for life”, you are likely to land up at Hesperian Digital Commons some day. Sarah Shannon who is the executive director of Hesperian Guides has just won a prestigious international award.

Before I tell you who Sarah Shannon is and what is this award she has won and who gave it to her, let me tell you more about Hesperian Health Guides and how as a writer you can benefit from them.

There are 230 countries in the world. People from 221 of those countries have downloaded health learning material from Hesperian Digital Commons.

World’s No 1 Health Manual

The most famous among the Hesperian guides is Where There is No Doctor, the world’s most widely used health manual.Where There is No Doctor is celebrating its 40th year of publication.

I should know. I published, “The best adapted and the least priced” Where There is No Doctor in India 35 years ago first in English and then in Hindi. The book is now in the 13th reprint.Ten other language editions have been published in India. The international edition too is into 13th reprint.

Since its first publication in 1973, Hesperian’s flagship title Where There Is No Doctor has undergone 28 updated editions, has been translated into 80 languages, and more than 3 million copies in circulation have touched the lives of well over 100 million people around the world — the World Health Organization has called it “the most widely used health guide in the world”.

The manual provides practical, easily understood information on how to diagnose, treat, and prevent common injuries and illnesses. Special attention is focused on nutrition, infection and disease prevention, and diagnostic techniques as primary ways to prevent and treat health problems.

Where There is no doctor was followed by Where Women Have No Doctor and Where There Is No Dentist.

Early Assistance Series

The Early Assistance series, developed in collaboration with community groups in 25 countries, recognizes that families are the primary resource for children with disabilities, and empowers them to support their children’s full and healthy development.

Over 20,000 Early Assistance books in 20+ languages have been distributed around the world. This three-book set covers all the major areas of physical disability in children. Includes Helping Children Who Are Blind, Helping Children Who Are Deaf, and Disabled Village Children.

Hesperian Health Guides is a nonprofit health information and health education source that supports individuals and communities in their struggles to realize the right to health.

We develop easy to read materials that are produced in many languages. All are available through our bookstore and the new Hesperian Digital Commons.

Community Guide to Environmental Health

From toilets to toxics, from watershed management to waste management, from raising crops to rising temperatures, how we use natural resources affects our health and well-being.

A Community Guide to Environmental Health, a highly illustrated guide helps health promoters , development workers, environmental activists, and community leaders take charge of their environmental health.

And the Award Goes to…………..

Sarah Shannon, the Executive Director of Hesperian Health Guides has won the Dory Storms Child Survival Recognition Award. 

As Executive Director of Hesperian Health Guides, Sarah Shannon has promoted the inclusion of early childhood development into primary health care, spearheading the development of the pioneering Early Assistance book series and incorporating early childhood development and updated child survival information into Where There Is No Doctor and other Hesperian publications. 

Under Sarah’s leadership, Hesperian has also produced materials on environmental health, women’s health, HIV/AIDS, and disabilities, all with the aim of supporting those working to ensure the healthy development of all children.

The award was given by CORE Group, a network of 70+ organizations dedicated to improving and expanding community health practices for underserved populations, especially women and children. This prestigious award was presented to Sarah on October 16th in recognition of her “leadership and commitment to guiding non-governmental organizations working in child survival toward more effective program implementation and increased impact.”

As a conscientious writer it is for you to visit Hesperian Digital Commons http://hesperian.org/books-and-resources/digital-commons/ and like their facebook pages
https://www.facebook.com/HesperianHealthGuides and stay well informed on health.

Script for life. Happy scripting! Informed scripting!