What are the Key Health Dangers for Children - Essay Example

Critically examine WHO or Govt. Policy for a promoting health with children Introduction: There are many interpretations about a child. However, the most commonly accepted definition about a child is, “a person who is below eighteen years of age”. This definition is in accordance with United Nations convention on the rights of child. Basic rights of a child: Children are an important part of population structure and human composition within a society. There are several basic rights of every child that must be fulfilled to ensure him protection, security and well being within a society. These basic rights include, Survival rights Development rights Protection rights Participation rights The right not to be discriminated Importance of child survival: Child survival starts from the point when a mother becomes pregnant. So, the survival and well being of a child always depends on the health and nutritional status of the mother. We can also say that child survival is directly related to health and fitness facilities offered to a mother as well as child. Moreover, environment also plays a great role in the upbringing of a child. After birth, the survival and health of a child all depends on receiving basic needs like food, protection, health and development from their parents, community and government. According to Addendum, World Health Organization WHO or Government policies are continuously working and implementing several strategies for the provision of basic facilities and services including education, health, cleanliness and safe drinking water. The particular focus of these institutions is given to those living in slum areas and far flung rural dwellings because of low health conditions in such areas. UN organizations are continuously involved in the betterment of mankind. These organizations worked a lot at various levels for the protection of children health. They also work to protect the rights and interests of the children all over the world. These interests are particularly in regard to their health, marriage contracts and employment. It is also important to understand that early marriages also affect the overall health and life of young female children. UN organizations are also working for the protection of children against abuse, punishment and emphasize the role of guardians and parents in the well being of their children. It is also an accepted fact that children cannot be overlooked within a society. They are considered an important segment of the society because of their composition and percentage in overall population structure. So several steps are taken that are aimed to promote the health and development of the children. These cares generally include the provision and strengthening of maternal and child care, preventive and immunization health, implementation of water projects, vaccination, environmental sanitation campaigns, establishment of day care centers, establishment of pre-schools, care and establishment of play grounds and provision of primary education for children. Government Organizations Promoting Health with Children: OAU charter on the rights of children is also signed in this regard. This charter is aimed at the enactment and review of different laws that were formulated for the protection and promoting the interests and rights of children. The preparation and the final implementation of National Program of Action concerning child survival, development and protection in the 1990s were also implemented for the same purpose. In various governments, special ministries are also created for the protection of children to coordinate various child development programs and encourage non governmental organizations and individuals working for children’s health and services. These ministries, in different countries, also work to establish centers for children in odd and difficult circumstances. Special institutions and schools are set up to accommodate children with specific problems. Moreover, voluntary associations are also created and set up to defend and serve children. Juvenile courts are also created for those suspected of breaking any law. However, these courts work and dealt with children in a way that their status as children is not violated. Despite all the facts that many organizations are working for children, still it is very common that the health of the children in South Asian and African countries is not satisfactory. Many children die below the age of five years because of disease and poor nutrition. Most of the maternal deaths and infants causalities in developing nations are also just because of poor health services offered in these countries which include lack of proper care, family planning and lack of immunization. Other reasons include the heavy load of work for pregnant women, inadequate food intake in the family, improper breast feeding practices and low income. Direct Relation of Good Health with proper Child Growth & Development: The development of children is related to his or her physical, moral, intellectual and spiritual growth. If you want your child grow well then you should provide complete care to a child. Your child needs to be cared for, brought up in accordance with norms of the community and given proper guidance. Moreover, it is very essential to enhance the health status of your child. Health directly affects the overall growth and development of a child whether related to physical development or mental capabilities. Physical growth of children refers to the growth of overall body such as height and weight in relation to age. This physical health all depends on adequate nutrition for the child, clean environment and health conditions in overall surroundings of a child. Furthermore, the mental growth of children refers to an increase in capacity of vision, imagination, understanding and curiosity about the environment in which he or she lives as he or she grows older. Mental growth also depends on nutrition, health and the environment in which a child lives and grows. However, mental growth also depends upon games and toys offered to a child, independence and teaching facilities provided. Next to physical and mental growth are moral and spiritual development levels in a child. Here we can say that these two are not directly affected by health. Moral and spiritual development all depends on the training and guidance a child is receiving form his/her environment. The moral development of a child enables the child to develop healthy relationship between him/her with other children and community members in which he/she is living. This moral growth and development of a child depends on the guidance, love and counseling he or she receives from guardians, parents, relatives and community in general. The spiritual growth and development of children depends on the ability to understand the relationship with the basic tenets of his faith so that he can live in accordance with the guidelines laid down by guardians, parents and religious domination. Key Issues Addressed by World Health Organization for promoting Child Health: Here it is very important to mention that what are the key issues related to children health that are addressed by World Health Organization. Unfortunately, nearly ten million deaths under five years of age take place every year. Generally, it is estimated that 1000 or more than that are died every hour. The risk of death among children is higher in the very first month of their life. Most of the new born deaths are just because of various infections. However, health risks to new born babies can be minimized by several measures that are not difficult to adopt as well. Quality care should be ensured during pregnancy. Delivery should be safe by skill birth attendants. (traditional birth practices especially in developing countries are a great cause of new born deaths) Strong neonatal care should be provided. Immediate attention should be given to warmth and breathing, skin care and hygienic cord and early instigation of exclusive breast feeding. (Suggested by World Health Organization) In the early years of children, the fundamental causes of deaths are various other diseases including pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea, HIV and measles. Malnutrition is also an important cause of poor health in children and estimated more than one third of early child deaths. Pneumonia is considered the prime cause of death in children’s early years. So, proper vaccination is essential to cope with the disease. Breast feeding is also important and helpful in this regard. Oxygen and antibiotics are vital tools that can manage the disease effectively. In developing nations diarrhea is a leading cause of child poor health and causalities. Breast feeding also helps in this disease. World health organizations work to promote the awareness about the importance of good nutrition and breast feeding for a child. It is very painful and sickening to know that in Africa one child dies every thirty second just because of malaria. So, insecticide-treated nets are used to prevent the transmission of disease. As a result these also promote child survival. 20 million children all over the world under the age of five are severely malnourished which can cause more illness and early deaths in vulnerable children. So, world health organization is working for the improvement of child health by helping various countries to deliver effective care. This care starts from the healthy pregnancy for a mother to care for a child up to five years. Strong health systems are promoted and implemented to get quality of life and better care. (Suggested by Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, Available at: http://www.tanzania.go.tz/pdf/childdevelopmentpolicy.pdf) Measures taken for promoting child health: WHO and government policies working in different countries for child development and health are aimed to fulfill the following objectives, First of all these policies are aimed to strengthen primary health care services for young children. This is to unable them to be immunized at right time. To ensure children regular medical check ups and receive all the treatment facilities when necessary as well as other essential medical services required. Government organizations are also working to educate and mobilize children, guardians and parents as well as community in general on the relationship between health, environmental sanitation, diseases and dirty water. They also aim to provide general health education and the ways to protect oneself against disease. Children, community and parents are also educated and mobilized on good nutrition, adequacy of food intake and preparation of different types of food that would be healthy choice for children. Child health care organizations are also working in educating and encouraging parents and community on appropriate weaning foods and the importance of breast feeding for children. They also ensure provision of essential nutrients for pregnant mothers and children in areas where there is shortage of foods with specific nutrients. Actually some areas may have specific nutrient deficiencies. So, they organizations actively participate to cope with such issues. WHO also work and undertake several surveys and researches to establish institutions which can better assist and take care of abandoned children and orphans. These institutions include organizations like SOS villages for children. Furthermore, they also work in issuing policies and essential guidelines to coordinate the implementation of several measures and programs to ensure child survival and health. Moreover, several government organizations also offer particular priority to industrial investors which produce children’s food and equipments. They also review the laws time to time to govern the importance of children’s foods. Those laws are also reviewed that are specifically designed and formulated to manufacture children’s foods. Lower and reduced taxes are imposed on children’s equipments and foods so that everyone can afford and have accessibility. Besides all that it is also important to raise the income of parents and community in general to improve the health and living of children. In World Health Organization projects women and communities, in general, are encouraged to participate in all stages of formulation and implementation and in managing different projects, services and activities related to child health and nutrition. However, it is not only the duty of world health organization but several other ministries also participate and work to coordinate the health of all members living within a community. These organizations include Ministry of Health and Ministry responsible for Women Affairs, Community Development and Children. These organizations should also work and educate on the importance of family planning and the benefit of child and mother health. WHO also promotes Ministry responsible for child development and Social Welfare conduct research and carry out surveys to establish villages for abandoned and orphans. Critical Examination/Analysis of all Implemented Plans and Child Health in WHO Regions: Many efforts are made to improve the overall health of children including health services and food security. However, many children in developing nations including South Asian and African countries are still prone to malnutrition and diseases. They are not growing mentally and physically as they should do. Furthermore, communal responsibility of child care is continuously minimizing and moral development of children is now only the responsibility of guardians and parents. This is just because of the breakdown of overall system. As a result there is no proper and common direction to follow. Now parents and guardians deal their children as they wish and think right for their children. Mental and moral health and development of children is also badly affected by conflicts usually rise in families. Parents use abusive language, marriage breakdown and harassment by adults also affects the moral development and physical health of the children. As already mentioned the efforts of world health organization regarding children health, Still many countries are facing great health problems for their upcoming generations. Here I am briefly explaining the conditions in some regions to analyze the overall policy and working of WHO and many other government institutions. African & South Asian Countries: According to Jean-Christophe Fotso, over last few decades African and South Asian countries have experienced tremendous population growth. This growth is further expected to occur in these areas. In these areas rate of urbanization is also increasing at great rate. Unfortunately, this pace of urbanization has been declined economies leading to inability of national and local authorities to provide basic social services to the growing population. The Gross domestic product GDP is also dropping annually in these countries. It is also important to note and mention here that the locus of malnourishment and poverty is gradually shifting from rural to urban dwellings in Asian countries just because of the fact that the number of urban undernourished and poor is increasing more quickly than rural number. In African countries the gap is also narrowing between rural and urban child mal nutrition. In urban areas overcrowded slums are also the cause of unhygienic environmental conditions. Here uncollected garbage, poor drainage, unsafe water and open sewers are very common. These simply worsen the health of residents and created a lot of health issues in those areas. As a result of such unhealthy conditions the rates of morbidity, child malnutrition and mortality are several times higher in slums than in other parts of urban areas or even compared to rural dwellings. Many organizations are working to cope with the issues relating to health. Moreover, World Health Organization WHO also focused on improving the health of most vulnerable and reducing inequalities between population groups. WHO states that “the objective of good health is two fold: the best attainable average level and the smallest feasible differences among individuals”. So, under nutrition or malnutrition is one of the major public health issue in developing nations where the main cause behind is poverty. Malnutrition is both the cause and manifestation of poverty. Nutritional deficiencies result in increased risk of morbidity from infectious diseases and mortality rate is high in newborns. This nutritional deficiency results in impaired cognitive or delayed development both physically and mentally which further reduce learning capabilities in pre school levels and poor work capacity in adulthood. In developing countries child poor health is just because of poverty which is the result of low family income, poor housing and environment, inadequate access to safe drinking water, foods and health care facilities. (Suggested by International Journal for Equity in Health) Western Pacific Regions: Western Pacific regions are also under the working of WHO. Around two thousand children under the age of five years die every day in this region just because of poor health. Among those died include 40% babies that die within the first month of their life. These babies usually died because of infections like pneumonia, sepsis, diarrhea, tetanus and due to complications related to pregnancy and child birth. Around half of the deaths just occur after the first month of birth due to very common treatable and preventable conditions such as pneumonia, measles, malaria, dengue, diarrhea and malnutrition. However, it is also a fact that most of the deaths occur in low income groups and countries or in poor communities where most of the deaths go unrecorded. Six major countries in this region that account more 75% of the total number of deaths among children under the age of five years include Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, China, New Guinea, Philippines and Viet Nam. Most of the times the resources spent on child survival are not enough or do not match as high child mortality and morbidity. In these countries the case is the same. Most of the childhood deaths occur in those families that have low and poor income. Moreover, many deaths remain unrecorded. However, the countries of western pacific region are committed to MDGs, Millennium Development Goals which aim to reduce child mortality by two thirds than the current mortality rate. This program is aimed 1990 to 2015. Some Facts about Child Health in this Region: In Asia and Pacific, every year more than 4 million children die before reaching their fifth birthday due to causes that can be treated and prevented easily such as diarrhea and pneumonia. In South Asian countries 9 out of every 100 children die before five years. Number of child deaths globally is getting increased and huge every year. Girls in these countries are more vulnerable to poverty, abuse, violence, death during child birth and more at risk of disease. (Suggested by World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific) European Region: World Health Organization programs are also working in European Regions for the well being, health and development of children, young people and adolescents. Various health programs are extensively carries out for infants, adolescents and children. These programs are properly lined with United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. These programs also aim to achieve the objectives of United Nations Millennium Development Goals. In European countries concrete health planning, policies and strategies are implemented. It’s the belief of European Countries that children are the tomorrow of the society. Their health affect the future prosperity as well as the stability of the countries in this region. This is the basic reason why WHO OR Europe strategy for children and adolescent health is developed in collabration with Member States. This strategy provides specific framework for all the countries present in the region. So, the results and the over all health in these countries is better and improving with the passage of time. Morbidity and mortality rates are decreasing and life span is increasing with improved health services. (Suggested by World Health Organization Regional Office of Europe) South East Asia Region: Here I am briefly explaining annual number of deaths by cause for children under five years of age in South East Asia Region according to World Health Report, 2005. This table indicates an estimate for 2000 to 2003. Cause Number (in 000s) Percentage (%) HIV/AIDS 22 1 DIARRHOEAL DISEASES* 552 18 MEASLES 103 3 MALARIA 12 0 ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS 590 19 NEONATAL CAUSES** 1,362 44 INJURIES 71 2 OTHERS 359 12 TOTAL 3,070 100 Source: world Health Report, 2005 In post-natal period, the deaths were because of diarrhoea. Whereas in neonatal period neonatal causes are also included. With the help of a graphs I am also explaining these causes of deaths in children under five years of age in South-East Asia Region. Source: http://www.searo.who.int/EN/Section13/Section37/Section2028.htm (Suggested by World Health Organization Regional Office for South-East Asia) Conclusion: Finally we can say and observe that with the help of several efforts carried out by WHO and many other organizations, the world has witnessed a remarkable change and achievement as far as children health is considered. Under the age of five child mortality is decreased from about two hundred per 1000 live births in early 1960s to eighty per thousand live births in 2003. infant and child mortality rate were higher just because of five preventable diseases plus malnutrition in pregnant mothers as well as children. With the help of different efforts at various levels, children are properly vaccinated that help in reducing the rate of deaths. However, it is also a fact that progress in developing nations is still slow. Moreover, mortality rates are higher in low income groups as compared to high income families. This is just because of lack of facilities and health services available for poors. They are not able to provide adequate nutrition and health services to their children. Furthermore, under the age of five the mortality averages 6 per 1000 live births in high income countries. On the other hand this mortality rate is 175 per 1000 in low income countries. Child health is worsen among poors. Finally we can say that there are several factors that play important role in maintaing health and development of children in particular and the over all society in general. Government policies should be planned and implemented in all sectors of life to improve the health and way of living. References: 1. World Health Organization, 2010. Child Health. (google search). [online] (Updated 2010) Available at: http://www.who.int/topics/child_health/en/ [Accessed 27th March 2010]. 2. Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, Child Development Policy. (pdf file). [online] Available at: http://www.tanzania.go.tz/pdf/childdevelopmentpolicy.pdf [Accessed 28th March 2010]. 3. Jean-Christophe Fotso, International Journal for Equity in Health, Research: Child Health Inequities in Developing Countries: Differences across Urban and Rural Areas. (Research Paper). 4. World Health Organization, 2010. What are the key Health Dangers for Children? (bing.com search). [online] (Updated 2010) Available at: http://www.who.int/features/qa/13/en/index.html [Accessed 27th March 2010]. 5. World Health Organization, 2007. International Travel & Health. Printed in Switzerland. 6. Addendum, P., 2002. Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. 2nd ed. World Health Organization, Geneva.   Read More