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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: A noted pediatrician in New Delhi, India, urges fellow pediatricians to promote the health and safeguard the interests of children. He advocates the establishment of comprehensive genetic units in the pediatric departments in teaching hospitals in India to reap the benefits of the genetic revolution. Specifically, advances in molecular genetics have led to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic concepts and uses (e.g., DNA probes to identify various pathogenic antigens and gene therapy). India needs to develop its infrastructure and facilities to acquire technology for diagnosis, monitoring, and providing life support to children with life-threatening conditions. For example, all teaching hospitals in India must set up neonatal and pediatric intensive care units as soon as possible. Since the government and hospital administrators fund expensive technology for coronary care units, postoperative intensive care units, and cancer hospitals, they can also afford to provide neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Hospital pediatric departments must create extensive child development centers to monitor child development in order to diagnose and treat early neuromotor disability. Pediatricians should develop the art of child care which includes skills in listening, soothing, gaining confidence, explaining, and consoling as well as effective health education. During each visit, they should educate the family about health and nutrition. The lack of political will is the major reason India cannot meet its maternal and child health (MCH) targets. For example, the government allocates less than 2% of the gross national product to health and family welfare programs. The government and physicians pay more attention to expanding cancer and coronary care hospitals than to promoting MCH. Pediatricians should work together to do just that, but improved child health status cannot occur without addressing discrimination against female children.
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