CHILD HEALTH IN TROPICS- WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
Gupta ASHOK
President
International Society of Tropical Pediatrics
Department of
Pediatrics, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India
Tropical countries
account for more than 50% of the world child population. The problem faced
by children in these countries are multifaceted and varied. More than 50%
of the total deaths of children in these countries still occur because of
acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, measles, malaria and malnutrition
with one third of the infant deaths due to neonatal deaths. HIV/AIDS has
become a major problem in Africa, Asia and Latin America, by 2010 it is
predicted that 40 million in Africa and Latin America will have lost one or
both parents due to this endemic. Children also suffer from abuse, are
subjected to labour and Gender discrimination. Additionaly children are
also exposed to suffering because of wards and hostilities. Child health in
tropic needs interventions at multiple levels including the family, the
community, the national and the international level. The children should be
given the benefit of enhanced breast feeding, the universal coverage
against vaccine preventable disease, adequate nutrtion and provision for
iodised salt. Mother should get skilled prenatal and delivery care.
On the scientific
front there is a need to develop local and appropriate technology which
should be low cost and easy to handle. One such example is the semi-open
technology and Kangaroo care for the new born babiesAdditionally crop bio
engineering to create transgenic crops small improve sustainable and
nutritiuos food sources. Developments in the field of molecular medicine
are defining pathophysiologies, understanding inborn errors of metabolism
congenital malformation degenerative disease, obesity and cancer. Tjese
have to be appropriately used for tropical world.
Multidisciplinary
approach are of parmount importance in the control, prvention and mangement
of the disease.
Apart from these
advocacy, community mobilization, health education are essential in the
promotion of wellness, quality of life and the prevention and management of
the disease.
The need of the hour
is to give all children a good start in life.