Prioritising the health of future generations

14 November. A special day. One to celebrate. But apart from celebration, Children’s Day also serves as a reminder of the importance of nurturing, protecting, and celebrating the youngest members of our society.

As mentioned, apart from the joy and festivities, the day also provides an opportunity to focus on the health needs and requirements of children. There is a realisation of the existence of an urgent and imperative need for paediatric medical care centred on the health needs of infants, children and adolescents.

Focus on Paediatric Care

Caring for children is paramount and there can never be any compromise in this area. That’s why specialisation is key. Paediatric care is just such a specialised branch of medicine that focuses on the physical, emotional, and developmental needs of children and has a unique approach tailored for children. Children’s bodies are still developing which makes their needs markedly different from that of adults. This is understood by paediatricians who are trained to customise care for each child accordingly.

Paediatric medical care spans the gamut from routine checkups to vaccinations to ensure that children receive preventive care that protects them against serious illnesses. Early childhood is a critical period for growth and development, and timely interventions are vital to prevent long-term health problems. This has been ably demonstrated by vaccination programmes that have been successful in diseases like measles, polio, and whooping cough.

Prevention – the real differentiator

Preventive care is truly at the heart of paediatric medicine – one cannot overstress the importance of regular health check-ups that enable doctors to monitor growth, identify developmental milestones, and detect early signs of health problems. Physical exams, hearing and vision tests, screenings for conditions like autism or asthma, and immunizations are vital to ensure a child’s long-term health.

Good nutrition, physical activity, and mental health are also equally important. And we cannot afford to ignore mental health either. The rise in childhood anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns in the post-pandemic world is a real cause of concern and paediatricians are increasingly playing a role in identifying mental health issues and referring families to appropriate specialists.

Children’s Day: Time to act

Children’s Day is not just any other day. It is an opportunity – an opportunity to reiterate the need for the world to prioritise children’s rights and wellbeing and understand that children are not just the future but the present as well.

There is a flip side to this as well. What is also often overlooked are the disparities in healthcare access that exist in different parts of the world when it comes to children. Many children lack access to essential medical services and suffer from preventable diseases. On Children’s Day, everyone needs to open their eyes to this sad truth and do their bit to push for better healthcare infrastructure and nutrition programmes.

Indeed, as we celebrate Children’s Day, it’s time to commit to providing the best possible care for our youngest generation, ensuring they have the chance to grow, learn, and thrive.