Marking World Children’s Day: Emphasising the Right to Health

World Children’s Day, observed annually on November 20, serves as a poignant reminder of our collective commitment to safeguarding children’s rights, encompassing food, healthcare, education, and protection from exploitation. Originating in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day, this date commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, both advocating for international collaboration to enhance children’s welfare.

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Lizeth Kruger, clinic executive at Dis-Chem Baby City, underscores the pivotal role of healthcare as a cornerstone to children’s well-being, facilitating early detection of diseases and developmental issues for timely interventions. She emphasises the clinics’ commitment to upholding every child’s right to health from pregnancy through adulthood.

In the context of this World Children’s Day, Kruger emphasises key factors in physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development health:

Pregnancy Checkups: Regular antenatal checkups are crucial for a mother’s well-being and form the basis for the healthy development of the child, offering vital insights and interventions throughout pregnancy.

Immunisation: Essential for preventing disease spread and reducing the risk of outbreaks, immunisation is crucial for children’s health, and parents play a pivotal role in ensuring their children have up-to-date immunisation records for school admission.

Developmental Assessments: Clinics conduct vital developmental assessments, evaluating physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development to identify delays, learning disabilities, and other issues for early intervention.

Early Detection and Prevention: Regular checkups and screenings are essential for early detection of health issues, including hearing and vision problems, developmental delays, and chronic diseases, with early intervention preventing escalation.

Health Education and Counselling: Primary healthcare provides parents and caregivers with education and counselling on nutrition, safety, and parenting skills, fostering a healthy environment for a child’s growth and development.

On this World Children’s Day, Kruger urges a shared responsibility among parents, communities, corporations, governments, and society at large to protect and promote the well-being of all children, emphasising the need for collective efforts to help them thrive in every aspect of their lives.

Source: Celebrating World Children’s Day with focus on right to health

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Photo: Supplied by Citizen