With millions of children around the globe dying every year due to environment-related diseases and other health complications, 'Universal Children's Day' was observed in Pakistan here on Saturday, like other parts of the world, with renewed pledge to promote welfare and health of children by extending them their rights.
To mark the day, different organisations arranged special functions to raise awareness among public about the rights of children and working towards their bright future. Addressing on the occasion, speakers called for playing due role in addressing the problems of children. They said necessary measures need to be taken by the government to establish rehabilitation centres for street children, where they could be supported to become a responsible citizen.
They further said millions of children are suffering from malnutrition mainly due to poverty, polluted water, physical and sexual abuse and poor health facilities. Child trafficking is still a matter of concern that needs to be addressed through stringent measures, they stressed.
The speakers noted that child maltreatment is an abuse and neglect that includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill treatment. This includes sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to a child's health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.
Child maltreatment causes suffering to children and families and can have long-term consequences. It also causes stress that is associated with disruption in early brain development. Extreme stress can impair development of the nervous and immune systems, they revealed. Consequently, as adults, maltreated children are at increased risk for behavioural, physical and mental health problems such as depression, smoking, obesity, high-risk sexual behaviours and alcohol and drug misuse.
Also, beyond the health and social consequences of child maltreatment, there is an economic impact, including costs of hospitalisation, mental health treatment, child welfare, and longer-term health costs. According to Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, Samina Khalid Ghurki, government is going to bring 'National Child Protection Policy' and 'National Commission on the Rights of Children Bill' soon to make Pakistan a 'Child Friendly Country.'
She said that despite a number of challenges faced by the country, the government has taken several steps for the wellbeing of children, which demonstrates strong political will and commitment towards the welfare. She observed that there is a realisation that all stakeholders must put their sincere efforts towards making the society tolerant and ensuring healthy growth and development of children.
Health professionals believe that children represent the future and ensuring their healthy growth and development ought to be a prime concern of all societies. New-borns are particularly vulnerable and children are vulnerable to malnutrition and infectious diseases, many of which can be effectively prevented or treated.
Each year, at-least three million children under the age of five die due to environment-related diseases. Acute respiratory infections annually kill an estimated two million children under the age of five. As much as 60-percent of acute respiratory infections world-wide are related to environmental conditions.
Moreover, diarrhoea diseases claim lives of nearly two million children every year." Eighty to 90 percent of these diarrhoea cases are related to environmental conditions, in particular, contaminated water and inadequate sanitation. Nearly one million children under the age of five died of malaria in 1998. Up to 90 percent of malaria cases are attributed to environmental factors.
It may be mentioned that On December 14, 1954, the UN General Assembly recommended that all the member countries introduce an annual event from 1956 known as Universal Children's Day to encourage fraternity and understanding among the children all over the world and to promote the welfare of children. Since 1990, Universal Children's Day marks anniversary of the date that the UN general assembly adopted both declaration and the convention on children's rights.