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| Sunday, 23 March 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Biggest threats to children's health: home and school by Carol Aloysius "A child's world is a very small one. It is limited to the confines of his home, school and neighbourhood, which he is familiar with and where he feels safest. Yet ironically, these so called 'safe places' can pose the biggest threats to his health, life and emotional state of mind". The truth of this statement by Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe , Consultant, Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, reiterated by Professor Narada Warnasuriya, Professor of paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sri Jayawardanapura, was borne out by a number of startling facts that emerged at a recent media seminar organised by the Health Education Bureau. Citing statistics of hospital admissions to the country's leading children's hospital, Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), Dr. Abeysinghe demonstrated by means of graphs, how nearly 9,000 admissions in the first three months of last year had been the result of injuries caused in the home, school, playground or immediate neighbourhood of the young victims. "All these injuries were avoidable", he stressed. "They could have been prevented if the caretakers had exercised more vigilance." Among the several unexpected revelations media personnel learned from the hospital statistics was that animal bites headed the list of causes for hospital admissions to the LRH in the first three months of 2002. In all an average of 358 children had been admitted following bites and scratches from pet dogs, cats, squirrels etc. "Keeping pets in the home can pose a great threat to your child", he warned. Trauma came second in the list with an average of 312 admissions. Other common causes for admissions varied from cut injuries (an average of 62), burns (53 average) foreign bodies in the eyes, nose etc (312 average), crush injuries and assault. A shocking revalation was the high number of children admitted from injuries from bicycle spokes (average 28) and acute respiratory infections (ARI) showed an average of 83. A graph on hospital admissions of children to the Kurunegala hospital for the same period again revealed that animal bites (dogs specifically) led the list with a total of 1472 children being admitted from dog bites, while injury to the eye and intracranial injuries were a close second. Another disturbing fact that emerged here was the high number of admissions by poisoning - a total of 1752. Equally frightening was the disclosure that some 140-4 children had been admitted as a result of snake bites to various hospitals in Kurunegala district. Dr. Narada Warnasuriya stressed the need for safety in the home initially and in the other environments familiar to a child, namely the pre-school, school and extended families. Referring to the high percentage of hospital admissions of children suffering from ARI (acute respiratory infections), he urged the media to spread the message of healthy environments beginning again with the home. "Most of these respiratory diseases including asthma and bronchitis in young children are triggered by allergies to house dust mites, cockroaches, cobwebs and too much (dusty) furniture. Children need space to run and move about. They need to breathe clean air. Instead of spending thousands of rupees on buying medicines, their parents should try keeping their homes clean and free of dust and insects in the first place", he stressed. Other leading factors that the WHO has categorised as " health risks for the child" include lack of boiled drinking water, unsafe use of dangerous chemicals, inadequate disposal of toxic wastes, and unsafe chemicals in toys and household products. The seminar was held in connection with the forthcoming World Health Day which falls on April 7. this year's theme is "Shape the Future of Life - Healthy Environments for Children." |
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