At the level of the environment

Much of the work needed to address the optimum health and development of children lies beyond the health sector itself. Although access to health services is obviously important, health care alone will not achieve the right to health for every child.

The impact of public policy on children’s rights to the best possible health

  • Child poverty has a profound impact on children’s physical, mental, emotional and psychological well-being.
  • Childhood accidents can be exacerbated by the priority given to road users rather than to pedestrians, by failure to invest in road safety programmes, and through lack of attention to safety in the design of public spaces.
  • Environmental pollution is damaging the health of millions of children; for example, through global warming, toxic emissions and the widespread use of chemical pesticides.
  • Lack of access to clean water is a major problem in terms of preventing disease.
  • Physical violence at home as a form of punishment and discipline remains legal in all but a handful of countries. It is widely used and tolerated, despite the growing body of evidence of its harmful impact on children and no evidence of its benefits.
  • Discriminatory laws and practices can and do cause profound damage to children’s health and well-being, increasing the likelihood of mental illness, low self-esteem and depression, as well as poorer physical health.

Many other aspects of government policy, or indeed, lack of policy, impact on the lives of children and their health and well-being. A commitment to ensuring the realisation of the right of every child to health must adopt a much wider approach. It should tackle the many social, economic and cultural factors that serve to harm children and deny them healthy lives. As health professionals, you will see much of the harmful impact that these policies or practices have on children’s lives.

Activity 3.4: Health in the wider environment

Give examples of what you could do to create an environment in which children can be as healthy as possible.

Compare your answer with the one given at the end of the study session.

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Activity 3.5: Accessing care during pregnancy

Read the case study below.

Case study

A pregnant woman was taken by motorbike during the day from her village to the nearest clinic but she did not get any service so she was taken to the hospital. This meant that overall she had to travel by motorbike for more than 60 kilometres over rough roads.

When she got to the hospital, the woman still was unable to be treated as the nurses advised that she should be taken to the main hospital because of the seriousness of her condition.

By this time it was already dark, and after another long drive the motorbike broke down because of overheating.

After working on the motorbike until 2.00 am, they managed to repair it and resume their journey. They finally arrived at the hospital early in the morning. When the doctors examined the woman they found the baby had already died in the womb, so they could only concentrate on saving the life of the mother, which they managed to do.

Now answer the questions. Discuss your answers if you are working in a group.

  1. Look at the right to health described in this study session, and note down in what ways it was not being respected.
  2. What do you think should have happened to protect the life of the mother and the baby in this case study?

Compare your answer with the one given at the end of the study session.

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At the level of health services