The major causes of common child disease, preventive measures and remedies were discussed at length by the specialists, NGO representatives at a workshop held at a hotel in Karachi under the auspices of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD).
According to NCHD spokesman, the workshop was the part of series held at various towns of Sindh for creating awareness among common man in general and parents and doctors in particular about the fundamental rights of children. Prominent among the participants were Sohail Rajput, Samina Altaf, Faheem Abasi, Azhar Gumhro, Abdul Shakoor, Naheed Kayani and others.
The speakers, while discussing mortality rate of children, observed that about 118,756 children died of diarrhea in the country every year. Stressing the importance of health and education for a healthier nation and country, the speakers said that unfortunately the country was amongst those states where infant mortality rate was one of the highest in the world.
They said that one child died every five minutes in Pakistan due to diarrhea and NCHD was addressing this issue by launching a national ORS campaign in which 6.7 million mothers had been trained in making Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) at home.
They emphasised that only an educated and healthy Pakistan would be able to compete amongst the countries of the world in 21st century and social indicators' improvement would be the guarantee for its success.
They also observed that 30 to 50 percent under age, who were brought to hospitals for treatments, died of diahorrea, acute respiratory infection ARI, measles and neonatal tetanus, many of the fatal diseases, they said, appeared to be caused by malnutrition.
They emphasised the need for proper attention towards immunisation, mothers' adherence to breast feeding, proper diet, use of nutrition meals and fresh fruits, and compliance with the health strategies to control the child fatalities.
The speakers were of the unanimous view that all the fundamental rights applied equally to man and women irrespective of their age and that there should be no discrimination with children in this regard.
They advocated the concept of priority to the interest of children, saying that the children, small ones more, deserved and needed the achievement of the legitimate civil, political, economic, cultural and social rights. They emphasised the need for the proper education in containing the growing mortality rate among the children and appealed to the literate lot to come forward in achieving the goal.
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