Future of every child in world ‘under threat’
UN’s doomsday claim over health danger
EVERY child in the world is under threat as decades of health improvements begin to stall, according to major World Health Organisation report.
Obesity, air pollution and climate change pose an ‘immediate threat’ to children in wealthy and poor countries alike.
The World Health Organisation is an arm of the United Nations. Its report, written by 40 experts from around the world and published in the Lancet, blames big business for ‘exploitative marketing practices’ to ‘push heavily processed fast food, sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco at children’.
The UK gives children good starts in life. It is among the best ten countries in the world for ‘flourishing’ child health thanks to the strong NHS and education system.
But it trails in 133rd place on providing a healthy environment – with Britain on track to emit 115 per cent more carbon dioxide by 2030 than its emissions target.
Experts are also concerned about Britain’s faltering vaccination uptake, with childhood immunisation of 94 per cent – lower than most other European countries. Widespread childhood poverty in the UK is also putting children at risk.
Professor Anthony Costello of University College London, who contributed to the WHO report, said: ‘ While the UK’s wealth, provision of free health care through the NHS, and investment in pre- school education and social welfare are strongly linked to good child survive and thrive measures, we cannot rest on our laurels.
‘The Institute for Fiscal Studies predicts a 7 per cent rise in child poverty between 2015 and 2022, and various sources predict child poverty rates of as high as 40 per cent. For almost one in every two children to be poor in 21st-century Britain is not just a disgrace, but a social calamity and an economic disaster, all rolled into one.’
Globally, the authors are most concerned about environmental issues and obesity.
They believe ‘predatory marketing’ of junk food and sugary drinks is directly driving obesity – the number of obese children and adolescents globally having increased from 11million in 1975 to 124million in 2016.
Professor Costello said: ‘Industry self-regulation has failed. Studies have shown that selfregulation has not hampered commercial ability to advertise to children.’ Helen Clark, former prime minister of New Zealand, who co-chaired the report, said: ‘Despite improvements in child and adolescent health over 20 years, progress has stalled, and is set to reverse. Every child worldwide now faces existential threats from climate change and commercial pressures.
‘Countries need to overhaul their approach to child and adolescent health, to ensure that we not only look after our children but protect the world they will inherit in the future.’
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said: ‘This report shows that the world’s decision makers are failing today’s children – failing to protect their health, their rights and their planet.
‘This must be a wake-up call for countries to invest in child health and development, ensure their voices are heard, protect their rights, and build a future that is fit for children.’
‘Progress has stalled’