Khushi Patel - Pediatrics

 

     Every single day, thousands of children suffer from treatable illnesses, not because we lack the medicine, but because they never had access to a doctor in the first place. When we hear the word “pediatrician”, we often think about taking a child’s temperature or giving them a flu shot, but pediatricians do so much more than that. They help make it possible for children to become healthy, physically and emotionally. But often, in many communities, they never get that chance.

The World Health Organization says that fewer than one pediatrician per 100,000 children exist in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa, while wealthy nations have over 100. Since there are not enough physicians, children suffering from curable illnesses–like infections, asthma, or trauma–receive no medical attention at all. Simple things like vaccinations or routine exams are not guaranteed. 

Pediatricians also test for delays in development, track nutrition, and help families with mental health problems. UNICEF explains what happens when children are not given this kind of care: it can lead to long-term illnesses and late milestones. 

In war or poor regions like Sudan or Gaza, conditions are worse. Physicians are swamped, according to The Lancet, and poorly equipped. They work in insecure hospitals with little to no equipment.

To achieve more pediatric care being practiced, we need to train more doctors for children and put more investment into more effective and efficient healthcare system, especially where children are lagging behind. Every child should be able to grow up healthy, no matter where they live.

Because children are the future, let’s make sure they have one