'Health for All Children\r'

'Is wellness for e very children an achievable final stage? The piece creations’s children deport rights to wellness which argon enshrined in inter content law. The fall in Nations Convention on the Rights of the electric s bring inr Articles 6 and 24 pertain to the rights of children to sprightliness, freect and growth, enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of wellness and facilities for the handling of indisposition and the rehabilitation of wellness ( law of closure 4, p. 94).However, every year passim the association domainly concern vast numbers of children suffer airsick health and give-up the ghost. Nearly 11 one thousand m sick of(p)ion children shut up die each year before their fifth stomachday, often from readily preventable causes. An estimated 150 million children be malnourished (UNICEF 2001) ( scarf out 4, p. 94. ) What follows is an exploration of the causes and treatments of ill health opineing at the major ch tout ensemble enges of pauperisation, inequality, culture and gender, and the sociable and insurance- devising dimensions of such matters.The tricky-hittingness or dissimilarly of international health intervention programmes is analysed and a position of the progress made so far and the hypothesis of health for the sphere’s children becoming a realistic goal is discussed. health is a cultur every last(predicate)y constructed excogitation, a collection of ideas and beliefs ga at that placed from our experiences of living indoors a family, confederacy and wider society. It is recognised by health professionals, theorists and researchers that existence healthy means incompatible things to different batch.When considering matters of health it ask to be understood that health and disease atomic number 18 complex terms that atomic number 18 more than than just a matter of genetics. Health is influenced by personal, cultural, fond, scotch and policy-making circumstances. The description of the term health as used by the human race Health fundamental law (WHO) since 1948 is as follows: ‘a separate of complete physical, mental, and fond well-being and non moreover the absence of disease or infirmity’. (WHO, 2009). The WHO rendering promotes an holistic view of health that has been criticised for being wonderful and difficult to put into practice.What is important close to this comment is that it is a positive interpretation that implies that health for all is something that can be achieved. Certainly this definition has back up thinking around health as more than simply the absence of infirmity and emphasises a accessible dimension. Globalisation, sparings, adverse living conditions, the drop of accessibility of primary feather health cautiousness, differing kind practices and cultural notions of health atomic number 18 all factors that impact on the health of people.These factors arrange both challenges and opportun ities for the world regarding the possibility of achieving health for all children. Medical advancements in the latter half(prenominal) of the twentieth century has seen most notably the development of antibiotics, vitamins, vaccinations for proficient infectious diseases such as Measles, Mumps, Rubella and yellow-bellied Pox, to name only a few, along with a vaccination that eradicated Small Pox.One advantage of sphericisation is the interchange magnitude aw beness of the plight of children in developing countries which has marshalled medical examination intervention and has essenceed in a drastic devolve in child and young people’s mortality evaluate. However, despite advancements in medical technology, the availability of health treatments has not guaranteed the eradication of some preventable and curable diseasees (for sample, Diarrhoea).Diarrhoea can be treated very loadingively with a low cost intervention. viva Rehydration Salts (ORS) prevent dehydrati on which is the cause of deaths amongst children with diarrhoea. However, in studies of the Huli people in Papua New Guinea it was noted that although at prototypic the mortality rate from diarrhoea skin as a result of the ORS intervention programme, the improvements were not sustained and the Huli people became dissatisfied with the treatment.The Huli people craved a treatment that would address the symptoms of diarrhoea: dry out up the runny stools of the sick children. Administering ORS fluids didn’t lease sense and clashed with their understanding of the illness. Furthermore, the need to dissolve the ORS music in urine necessitates a clean water supply, something so basic but something that isn’t eer available in communities in the South. The ‘Miracle cure’ or ‘Magic bullet’ for diarrhoea, ORS, is an example of how selective, vertical interventions may save lives. barely it is besides a prime example of how a purely medical appr oach to health does slender to improve the quality of lives when other causes of illness such as paltry sanitation and lack of clean water are not addressed. (Block 4, p. 125). A Western biomedical approach to the treatment of ill health has its limitations. Technological cures in the form of drugs, although vitally important, will on their protest do little but not enough to grant health an attainable goal for the world’s children.The concept of human rights and rights for children has gained increased recognition across the world. The side of children has been raised and children’s interests placed on political agenda’s throughout many an(prenominal) states. ‘As of November 2009, 194 countries ratified, accepted, or acceded to the UNCRC (some with stated reservations or interpretations) including every segment of the United Nations except Somalia and the United States. Somalia has announced that it would in short do so’ (Wikipedia, 2010).Ye t there remains bear on about the real aims of payload to concepts of children’s rights and link up about the lack of accountability to make nations encourage right’s for children. Through media coverage of world catastrophes, such as famines and droughts and through campaigns delivered by improver and charitable organisations an ethical and lesson debate is winning place about the need to address global health that has pricked the moral conscience. What is now required is effective systems that can help realise children’s rights and circle efforts to make health for all an achievable goal.The economical power of some nations and global corporations, and structural adaptation programmes (SAP’s) boast created imbalances of power and forces that rescue worked against health goals with the effect of widening economic disparities amongst rich and poor across and within nations. SAP’s have been imposed to ensure debt repayment and economi c restructuring. But some poor countries have had to reduce consumption on things like health, education and development, while debt repayment and other economic policies have been made the priority.For many basic health sustentation has become a service that can only be accessed if an item-by-item has money to purchase it. withdraw health mission has become less about a human right and more of a commodity to be bought. A further challenge to health for children in relation to economics is that within countries where there is political instability and conflict nations priorities become one of national security, funding arms and defense programmes and as a result there is decreased funding for basic care and education. At pre direct an attitude prevails that nations should ‘look after heir own’. There does exists a humanitarian approach to supporting poorer countries at measure of emergency but there are no effective systems that legally oblige nations to work uni tedly to ensure that basic living conditions, health care and the right’s of children are upheld. A change of attitude within and across nations and governments regarding whose responsibility it is to interpose and the importance of intervening to produce more classless societies would go a long way to making health for all children an achievable goal.Global medical advancements, the development in the concept of rights for children internationally and world economic systems have been investigated to demonstrate how they have resulted in both opportunities and challenges to improving health for all children. Yet it is also necessary to look closer at the more personal experiences encountered by children and families and focus on the social and cultural factors that impact on health.Securing health for all children requires more than having medical expertise and drugs on throw to prevent and/or treat medical ailments. some(prenominal) examples of differing cultural unders tandings around illness can be offered that illustrates this idea. The Bozo tribe of Mali believe that red urine in adolescent boys, a condition caused by a parasitic infection, is normal and indicates sexual matureness; as such it is celebrated as a sign of males reaching manhood. Within the Bozo tribal people the symptoms are not viewed as a sign of illness and the condition goes untreated.In Nigeria 76% of women see diarrhoea as a symptom of grow and as such a normal take leave of growth and development and not something which requires treatment (Block 4, p. 103). In both these examples the cultural and social dimensions of ill health contrast with Western biomedical approaches to children’s health. When culturally interpreted ideas of health conflict with medical systems where there is a focus purely on the biological causation of illness, the acceptance of a diagnosis and treatment of a condition can be problematic.Some challenges in achieving health for all children is managing and resolving the clash of differing world views regarding health, that is, people’s perceptions of health in concert with their level of understanding and acceptance of scientific notions of health, and how to increase community participation in health programmes. UNICEF states that ‘chronic need remains the greatest obstacle to fulfilling the rights of children’. In the UNICEF book, ‘We are the Children’, it is cited that half of humanity is desperately impoverished and half of the 1. billion people forced to live on less than $1 per day are children. (Block 4, p. 108). UNICEF and the solid ground Bank have defined absolute scantness (less than $1 per day per person) as being the negligible amount that purchases the goods and services deemed necessary for basic selection. (Block 4, p. 49). This definition is most appropriate for those living in the poorest countries of the South, however, distress affects many children living wit hin the richest countries of the world also.Relative sooner than absolute poverty, that is, the inequality and deprivation see coition to those better off living in the alike(p) society, can impact on health causing emotional melodic line, humiliation and social exclusion. Andrea Ashworth writing about her experiences of growing up in Manchester in the 1970’s described the multiple effects of poverty that she experienced; living in a flea infested home, eating a less than nutritious diet, the shame of not being able to afford certain basic items of provender, the stress that poverty had on her mother and how it manifested symptoms of depression that wedged on the whole family. Reading B, Ashworth). Studies by the Child Poverty Action Group in the United Kingdom concludes that children growing up in poverty are more likely to be natural prematurely, suffer chronic illnesses in later life, die from accidents, live in poor quality homes, have fewer employment opportunities , get in strike with the police and be at greater risk of exposure of alcohol or drug misuse. Poverty impacts on both the physical and mental health of children and their boilersuit quality of life. (Block 4, p. 57).In roll to make improvements in the health of the world’s children it is necessary therefore not simply to make health care freely available to all but to confront and getup wider issues of social justice, inequality and poverty. Cuba is an example of a republic with limited material resources that has created a more equalitarian society by providing food, employment, education and health care for all. They now have infant mortality rates on a par with some of the world’s wealthiest countries.Similarly, in Bangladesh as a result of a national commitment to invest in basic social services, the under fives mortality rate has decreased substantially. (Block 4, p. 109). This is strong evidence of the ability to make health for all an achievable goal if th ere is government commitment to tackling social justice and inequality. A further dimension of inequality is the discrimination in matters of health based on gender, birth order and social status at a topical anaesthetic level.In cases of malnutrition in Mali, Dettwyler identified that access or entitlement to resources is do ‘by the social relations prevailing between and within families within communities’ (Block 4, p. 119). Dettwyler provides an example of discrimination against children that begins with discrimination against the mother. Aminata, since she was fostered by the family, was considered to be of low status. When she became pregnant with check her status was further lowered along with her entitlement to food and freedoms.She had to accept a life of drudgery and hard work providing for others in the family which took precedence over warmth for her own children who were suffering from malnutrition despite food being in plentiful supply. Aminata’ s quality of life only improved when one of her children died, the other was sent away and Aminata married into a new family. Her social standing increased along with her quality of life. Aminata gave birth to three more children, two of whom survived and were reported to be only mildly malnourished. Reading C). Beliefs about female inferiority within many parts of the world impacts on rates of malnutrition and mortality amongst girls compared to boys. Studies have shown in India and China that girls are less likely to be breast fed for as long boys, are less likely to be given extra food and more likely to be abandoned. These social attitudes and practices towards girls can be changed through development policy on the education of females.Through education the chances of health and survival of children can be improved (Block 4, p. 116) It has been argued that to achieve health for all children multiple factors need to be addressed. Free basic primary health care needs to be availa ble to all, yet this on its own will do a little but not enough to sustain health and survival. Sustainability requires seemly housing, sanitation, clean water and an environment free from pollutants. Education, skills instruction and employment enable people to contribute to society.They are determinants of health in that they raise self-esteem, feelings of worth and have the ability to empower, organise and rally people together to make changes to advance wealth and health. The health of the world’s children cannot be left in the hand of humanitarian and charitable organisations. Unscrupulous governments and some economic policies are malign forces that impede progress. The ethical and moral questions regarding international intervention and the level of responsibility that different nations should or can have towards the peoples of other nations are difficult to answer.However, the goal of health for all, as heterogeneous or impossible it may at first seem, has seen pr ogress which should not be underestimated. Within sixty years the WHO has been set up, the UNCRC has been established, international policies have been devised that have bound nations to working together, unprecedented medical knowledge has been gained, lessons regarding what has worked and hasn’t worked have been learnt, cultural understandings have been positive and ethical and moral debates keep the issue of poverty and health in the minds of all.The world is entering a crucial phase where the scope to tackle world poverty and health of children is beginning to be realised. The know-how, expertise and resources exist to achieve health for all children. maybe the greatest challenge to success is establishing worldwide commitment to the endeavour.Word count 2,505 References turn out University (2007) U212, Changing Childhoods, topical anesthetic and Global, Block 4, Achieving Health for Children, Milton Keynes, The Open University Open University (2007), Changing Childh oods, Local and Global, Block 4, Achieving Health for all Children, Reading C, ‘Cases of Malnutrition in Mali’, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Open University (2007), Changing Childhoods, Local and Global, Block 4, Children, Poverty and Social Inequality, Reading B, ‘Once in a House on Fire’, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Wikipedia 2010 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/UNCRC [accessed 5 September 2010] World Health Organisation 2003 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/UNCRC [accessed 5 September 2010]\r\n'