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About 30 children die every 3 minutes from impoverishment
MADRID, February 6, 2012: About 30 children die every 3 minutes from
impoverishment. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a
total of 6 million children, who are less than 5 years old, suffer from
malnutrition worldwide. More than 180 million children, less than 10 years old, suffer of hunger
due to the lack of food. About 177 million children experience delayed
development and about 8 million of newborns die each year due to the
mother’s poor health conditions during pregnancy. Other causes are the
mother’s nutrient-deficient nourishment, the lack of safety standards
during childbirth, and negligence when caring for the baby. These conditions are present in countries where about 15 million teenage
girls, between the ages of 15 and 19, give birth at an annual rate.
These statistics indicate that the world is far from reaching the goals
established at FAO’s World Food Summit of 1996: halve the total of
homeless children by 2015. Where nourishment is difficult, a child has
an average life expectancy of 38, while in 24 of the world’s wealthiest
countries the average increases to 70. It is estimated that 1 out of 7 children born in the world’s
poorest countries is sentenced to die before reaching the age of 5. A year
estimates about 250,000 children. Most of these children die due to the
lack of food and essential nutrients, which weakens them and reduces
their weight thus making them more vulnerable. Moreover, these children
are exposed to a high risk of catching infectious diseases. In developing countries, diarrhea, acute respiratory diseases, malaria
etc are among the main causes of child death.
About 10 lakh children with type I diabetes in India
New Delhi, January 28, 2012: The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that there are more than 346 million people worldwide
suffering from diabetes. According to International Diabetes Federation
(IDF), India tops the list with more than 50 million people with diabetes. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) states that there are
about 10 lakh children with type I diabetes in India. Type II diabetes among children is also on the rise because of an increase in obesity
among children. It is high time we understand the burden of this disease
and spread awareness among everyone to combat this menace..
Prior to the discovery of insulin, children with diabetes did not live
for longer than six months from the onset of symptoms. Thanks to Banting, and his team at the University of Toronto, this amazing
discovery has changed the lives of millions of diabetic patients.
Diabetic patients these days can lead a reasonably normal life provided
they follow their diet plan and insulin regimen.
Diabetes is a condition that causes high sugar in our blood. This
happens due to a lack of or resistance to insulin, a hormone required
for the transport of glucose to different parts of our body. There are
different types of diabetes. Children almost always develop Type I
diabetes (juvenile diabetes). However, more recently, because of the
obesity epidemic worldwide. |
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42% of Indian children underweight, PM calls it a 'national shame'
NEW DELHI, January 10, 2012 (PTI) : Highlighting that 42 per cent children
were underweight in a country witnessing high growth, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today described it as a national shame
and said the government could not rely solely on ICDS, a programme for early childhood development, to address it.
"...the problem of malnutrition is a matter of national shame. Despite
impressive growth in our GDP, the level of under-nutrition in the country is unacceptably
high," he said releasing a report on Hunger and Malnutrition (HUNGaMA) here.
Pointing out that India had not succeeded in reducing the levels of malnutrition fast enough, he said, "Though the ICDS continues to be our
most important tool to fight malnutrition, we can no longer rely solely on it."
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme is a major
national programme that addresses the health and nutrition needs of children under the age of six.
The HUNGaMA report states that the prevalence of child underweight has
decreased from 53 per cent to 42 per cent, marking a 20.3 per cent fall
over a seven year period with an average annual rate of reduction of 2.9 per cent.
The survey found that the rates of child malnutrition were still
unacceptably high in the 100 focus districts with the poorest child development indicators where over 40 per cent of children were
underweight and almost 60 per cent stunted. "We need to focus on districts where malnutrition levels are high and
where conditions causing malnutrition prevail," Singh said. He said policy makers and programme implementers need to clearly
understand many linkages - between education and health, sanitation and
hygiene, drinking water and nutrition - and then shape their responses accordingly.
Be unique and think big: APJ Kalam tells students
Bhubaneswar, January 07, 2012: Former president APJ Abdul Kalam on
Wednesday appealed school children to be unique, think big and work dedicatedly in the field of science and
technology. “The young and ignited minds should dream big and not be dictated by failures,” Kalam said while inaugurating the Children Science
Congress at the 99th Indian Science Congress at KIIT University campus here.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the 99th Indian Science
Congress on Tuesday. More than 15,000 delegates including Nobel laureates, scientists from abroad and students are participating in the
five-day event, which will conclude on January 7.
Kalam’s address to 15,000-odd school children was more of an interaction
than speech. He talked extempore, gave gems of advice to the children
and fielded questions from them with aplomb. Telling them that each of them should think he was unique, he made them
recite: “I’m born with potential. I’m born with greatness. I’m born with
wings. So I’m not meant for crawling. I’ll fly, I’ll fly, I’ll fly.”
He said the young students should work on their dreams and take calculated risks in life. The coming generation would have great aim in
life, acquire knowledge continuously, work hard and be the captain of all problems, he said. “Make great books, great human beings and great
teachers as your friends,” he advised the children.
Replying to a question how he managed to balance science and politics
when he was president, the missile man said: “Science needs lots of
money and money comes from politicians.” To another question on space science and missile technology, he said:
“Earth, Moon and Mars will become economic entity in the next three
decades and we will be seeking lots of things from there.” Kalam said imagination was the beginning of creation and young students
should imagine what they desired. Knowledge of science could give one
better eyes and solve sea of problems, he said. Source: Hindustan Times |
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