Under-nourishment, terror serious challenges to child health: PM

Zeenews.com, November 14, 2006

Warning that under-nourishment, environmental damage, conflicts and terrorism posed serious challenge to children's health, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said it was important to "respect and uphold" the right to health of children. "No civilized society can shirk this duty," he said while inaugurating the first global youth meet on health here organised by NGO Hriday-Shan (health related information dissemination amongst youth - student health action network).

He noted that even under peaceful conditions, there were pandemics like HIV/AIDS and avian flu that took a huge toll on families and societies."In the battle against HIV/AIDS, there is no more powerful weapon than education and awareness," he said stressing that "young people who are well informed and highly motivated can be very effective change agents in society-influencing not only their peers but also adults. Your idealism can break through even the thickest barriers of cynicism and inaction".

The Prime Minister also emphasized that every country has a "moral responsibility" to create a healthy world in which people could lead happy and productive lives. "We also have a moral obligation not to destroy or damage the world our parents gave us," he told over 1000 school children from 11 states and 36 countries attending the four-day meet. "While every citizen of the world must enjoy this right, it is even more important to respect and uphold this right for children who are among the most vulnerable segments of any society," the Prime Minister said. Singh also spoke of the global environment being under threat with dire consequences for human health. Citing global warming threatening famines, floods, epidemics and ecological disarray, he said these "severely compromise human health and may even lead to extinction of life on this planet."

"There are also a growing number of conflicts and terrorist attacks that threaten the peace and well being of people in many parts of the world. Children and young persons are often the innocent victims of senseless and cruel violence," he said. Singh said empowering young people through such health programmes could influence their peers and adults too. "Your enthusiasm can light up the dark areas of our society and transform the world into a safer, healthier and happier place," he said. Singh said while one third of the children in developing countries remain undernourished, those living in urban areas are consuming unhealthy foods and becoming physically inactive.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said there are 600 million youth in the country and they are at risk of various diseases, including HIV/AIDS, diabetes and tobacco-related diseases. "Our country is youth driven. But they are at risk of various ailments. Today is also world diabetes day and children are also falling prey to it," he said. "Youth have to strengthen their bonds and create awareness against lifestyle diseases," he said.

When he asked the assembled children about whether they eat pizzas and burgers, he got an affirmative answer and told them that awareness is needed about these junk food that they are bad for health. He said youth leaders, counting himself as one as he is the youngest minister in the Manmohan Singh cabinet, should reach out to the needy and the poor, mostly those who live in the rural areas. K Srinath Reddy, who is the executive director of Hriday-Shan and former professor of cardiology at AIIMS, said promoting awareness of healthy living among youth is imperative in today's world. "Healthy environments at home, school and community are essential for a productive childhood," he said.