Last week the Paediatric Society launched a Social Health Monitor at their annual conference in Hamilton.  This is an annual checklist to track the effects of the economic downturn on child health and poverty.
But a Wellington pediatrician, Brendon Bowkett said child health was “a basket-case well before the recession.”  While supportive of moves to tackle the problem he said easy access to free medical care for sick kids in poorer areas is what is really vital.

In the past decade there have been several assessments of the state of children’s health on an international scale and in all of them New Zealand children are now among those who are at the greatest risk among children from developed countries.   Do we need more assessments or is it more organised, consistent, well-funded action that is required?  The needs are exploding!!

The Director of the Child Epidemiology Service contends a number of health conditions among children will deteriorate after the recession and tracking them will be critical so that, the relevant authorities will be alerted quickly. The Report presented at the Paediatric Society conference drew the link between rising unemployment, poverty and short and longer-term health outcomes which include higher hospital admissions and mortality in the short term.  In the longer term there is poorer cardiovascular and oral health, and an increased chance of becoming dependent  on alcohol.  We also have excessively high rates of youth depression and suicide and deaths of children from accidents, maltreatment and violence.

To raise investment in our children makes good economic sense let alone being a moral obligation.  If we are to advance anywhere as a people we need to attend to the needs of the most vulnerable ones in our population.  How often are children mentioned in the Budget and their needs discussed in Parliament? The money we spend on our children now will be saved long term on fewer beds in jails, hospitals and psychiatric units.

But my concern goes deeper than mere economic terms and lies in our social and spiritual priorities.  Do we value children as our most valued resource and as a precious gift entrusted to us?    Their care and nurture is the responsibility of the whole community. Every child is made in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate dignity which demands our commitment to support everything that will promote the best interests of children,especially the most vulnerable.

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