|
The
study day was devised to respond to the area of second
greatest concern expressed by young women in NCW’s recent
survey.
Dr Andrew Williams,
a consultant community paediatrician from
Northampton General
Hospital
, recalled graphically the
diseases of childhood which are now mercifully rare, thanks
to better sanitation, diet (including food fortification)
and immunisation. He gave a reasoned review of vaccines,
including MMR which he knows to be the best and safest way
of protecting all children.
Accompanying a welcome slide of George Clooney
looking gorgeous in his ER role, Dr. Williams said that
there is no Dr. Wonderful, no doctor can provide all the
cures nor all the help that is needed; immunisation in this
country is still voluntary which is why his answer to the
question posed in our title was “Sorry – it’s OUR
responsibility”. He finished, as he had begun, with the
following slide:- “What
really matters for Child Health? (assuming shelter and love
as a given) 1.
Ample quantities of good quality food.
2. Clean water. 3.
Sanitation. 4.
Female education. 5. Female emancipation.
6. Immunisation.”
DrTim Barrett,
a consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology at Birmingham
Children’s Hospital and the Medical School, taught us the
difference between Type 1 Diabetes (the pancreas fails to
produce insulin) and Type 2 (insulin is produced but the
body tissues fail to respond to it). Typically, Type 2 has
been associated with overweight adults in late middle-age.
Evidence from the
United States
shows that over-eating and
under-exercising is leading to a frightening rise in obesity
in children. This is leading to a corresponding rise in the
potential for heart disease, joint problems, some types of
cancer, and - already -
in the numbers of children with Type 2
Diabetes. Sadly,
the
UK
is not far behind.
Dr. Barrett gave some reasons for over eating.
The stomach does not recognise calories, only volume,
so a high calorie drink and a packet of crisps, while high
in calories and low in food value, will not satisfy hunger
“Lifestyle intervention” by way of diet, physical
activity, and behaviour modification is the way forward.
|
NCW can help by lobbying - 'Better
food labelling; traffic light system… Reduce or ban food
advertising directed at children… encourage family meals,
eating at home… promote physical exercise on education
agenda… safe play areas and sports fields.'
All of these are areas of NCW activity, as we know.
Mrs Mary Pillai,
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist from Cheltenham
and Gloucester Hospitals, accounted for the rise in early
sexual activity and sexually transmitted diseases by
reminding us of the increased number of adolescents, with
their emotional immaturity and difficulties, now compounded
by the fact that the average menarche (onset of menstruation
and therefore sexual drive) is earlier
(12.8 years compared with 16.5 in mid 19th
century). Helping young women come to terms with their
sexuality requires a non-judgemental approach, and a
recognition that increasingly there is peer pressure and
often violent coercion into sex. High self-esteem is
protective; adolescence is a time of fragile or low
self-esteem.
Holland
has a low teenage pregnancy
rate – research shows that Dutch families are open about
sexuality and family relationships.
Mrs Pillai then spoke of her work as a forensic examiner for the
police in cases of reported rape.
Rape is a crime second only to murder, and therefore
the woman is a 'scene of crime' and evidence has to be
taken without being 'contaminated' by treatment,
counselling, or the natural response of sympathy.
The government has set up some Sexual Assault
Referral Centres (SARCs) but there is not the money to staff
adequately those which do exist. In a SARC, all the relevant
forensic material, (photographs, swabs, fingernail
scrapings) are taken and saved. The women can then be
offered treatment and comfort, and allowed to go home to
bath and decide later whether they can face proceeding to
prosecution. The
level of medical staffing is woeful. Those present felt that
this is an area for research and representations to
government.
|
