Child Health Day is a day to raise people's awareness of how they can look after and build up their children's health. It is a United States Federal Observance Day event is yearly celebrated on the first Monday of October. The duty of making a child realize the importance of a healthy body lies with the parents. A healthy mind is cultivated by a healthy body.
Although Child Health Day is an International observance in the World, it is not a public holiday. Calvin Coolidge was the first American president to issue a proclamation for Child Health Day in 1928 and it was annually observed on May 1 until it was observed on the first Monday of October from 1960 onwards.
What and how do people do . . .
In the United States all agencies and organizations interested in child welfare are invited to unite on Child Health Day to monitor exercises to stimulate or increase people's awareness of the need for a year-round program to protect and develop children's health. Health professionals and health organizations across the World take part in this day through various activities and focus on healthy eating and physical activity for children and their parents or parental figures. They provide information on nutrition for children and adolescents, the importance of physical activity, and nutrition for pregnant women.
The health of a child is one of most challenging, yet important, responsibilities, there must be obligation to ensure that all our children can live, learn, and play in safe and healthy environments. On Child Health Day, it's a need to confirm the critical importance of the quality health care, nutritious foods, clean air and water, and safe communities our kids need to grow into strong and active adults.
Parents and other caregivers should set an example of healthy living and lay the foundation for children's success. Whether providing nourishing meals, attending regular check ups, or encouraging outside activity, they teach the habits and values for mental and physical well-being that last a lifetime.
It is vital to remember that children should be allowed to decide. If a child does not like to eat a food initially, new food should be served unless and until a child develops a liking for it.
Parents also should not have to worry about whether the conditions in which their children grow and play are unsafe or unclean. Prenatal and early-life exposures to allergens and environmental contaminants may have detrimental lifelong effects. There is a need to must take action for our children's and grandchildren's sake, and work together to reduce risks from environmental exposure at home, school, and play areas. Parents should make certain to restrict the quantity of additional sugar in the child's diet since sugar consumed in unchecked quantities can lead to several health complications. Cereals with low or no added sugar should be preferred. Water or low-fat milk is considered beneficial in comparison to sugar-sweetened sodas and fruit-flavored drinks.
Children and teens who are overweight and in poor physical shape are likely to suffer from a host of health-related problems. Hence, it is imperative for parents to participate in sports and physical activities together with their children.
They should encourage their children to take part in games and physical activities on a regular basis and try to convince them into making it a part of their lives.
Child health in Pakistan:
Child health in Pakistan is among the most important national issues that have been given much attention. The child mortality in Pakistan is a major cause of concern, with every 1 among 10 children dying before reaching the age of five and 1 among 30, just after they are born.
As Pakistan is among the developing nations of the world that has yet to do much for the welfare of the general public. Pneumonia and air pollution seem to be the factors affecting the health of the children in Pakistan. The air pollution is mostly caused by harmful emissions of biogas, which is used in most houses of Pakistan.
Statistics indicate that the lifetime risk of maternal death for women in Pakistan is 1 in 31, while roughly 1 out of 10 children born in Pakistan die before the age of five. Among the factors contributing to maternal death and infant mortality are high fertility rates, inadequate access to quality maternal and child care services, a low rate of skilled birth attendance, inadequate emergency obstetric and newborn care, low female literacy, poverty, and a heavy burden of communicable diseases.
Pakistan's government is developing policies to prioritize these issues and implement solutions. Govt. has increased public expenditures in 2007 for disease control and child health care, and that the Lady Health Workers programme (which promotes family planning and primary health care) would be bolstered to 100,000 nurses by However, experts at the forum warned that progress is still too slow and that resources are often allocated inadequately.
Children are our most precious resource. They are our joy in the present and our hope for the future. National Academy of Young scientists (NAYS) and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) are trying to help them as loved ones, educators, mentors and friends. We must do everything in our power to protect the health and well being of our Nation's children and the promise of their futures.
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(Compiled by Zaryab Khalid Sial- member CEAP team)
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