Update 64

Update 64, "A European approach to child health" - now available online

Every parent embarks on the greatest experiment of all. Quite literally. As children grow they are exceptionally vulnerable to the physical, social and emotional environment around them. But are we, European citizens, doing enough to protect children and ensure their good health?
In this issue:
Click on the titles below to get to the corresponding article A European approach to child health
Identifying the threats to children’s health in Europe
Interview: Dr Roberto (...)

Kids on the move: making Europe’s roads healthier for children

Among the European Commission’s responses to concerns about the effects of environmental factors on children’s health is a lively publication, illustrated with children’s drawings, describing initiatives to improve child mobility and health. Claude Bichou, DG Environment, presented "Kids on the move" at the Green Week Conference held in Brussels earlier this year. His presentation formed part of a session moderated by MEP Dr Caroline Lucas on how children’s mobility enhances their mental (...)

Child environmental health issues at a glance

The following are defined as the main areas of concern in Europe:
Asthma, allergies and respiratory infections
Asthma and atopic (asthma related, such as hay fever and eczema) disorders are the leading cause of chronic respiratory illness
Factors playing a role, particularly in early life, are: infectious/microbial burden, environmental tobacco smoke/maternal smoking in pregnancy, allergens, smog (particulate in the air)
Acute respiratory infections are the single largest cause of (...)

One drag can start nicotine addiction

A new study shows that preventing smoking in young people is even more difficult than in adults. Not only are children more vulnerable to advertising by tobacco companies, they are also more prone to becoming addicted.
’’It was assumed kids did not become hooked until they were smoking every day, and at least half a pack a day," says McGill University epidemiologist Jennifer O’Loughlin, commenting to Globalink* readers on recent findings from a study by McGill University of Medicine in (...)

"Fat tax" proposed to fight food poverty

Social policy experts in the UK are proposing a tax on the advertising of highly processed and fatty foods.
City centre supermarkets target cash-rich, time-poor shoppers who are prepared to pay a premium for pre-prepared healthy food, according to a new report entitled "Inconvenience food: the struggle to eat well on a low income". The targeting of these consumers by major supermarket chains which control a large proportion of the food retail market effectively excludes people on low (...)

Identifying the threats to children’s health in Europe

Europe’s children face health problems that are different from other regions of the world. Dr Roberto Bertollini of the World Health Organization’s European regional office identifies the main threats and defines WHO’s approach to tackling the problems.
What are the main threats to children’s health? How do they differ from those facing adults?
Bertollini: The answer depends on which part of the world we are talking about. In developing countries, although much progress has been made in (...)

Young people brainstorm on alcohol

During a conference on "Education and Health" which took place in the Netherlands in September 2002, the results of the Young Minds project were presented. Students from secondary schools in twelve European countries highlighted young people’s opinions on the links between youth, culture and health. Here is how students in Spain propose to deal with the attitudes of young people towards alcohol and drugs.
Student report: It was hard to start off. At first we didn’t have a very clear idea (...)

EPHA in action for children’s health

Thanks to the commitment of WHO and the European Commission, much is now being done to achieve improvements in children’s environmental health in Europe. EPHA hopes that as the process goes on stronger emphasis will be given to inequalities in children’s health and to acknowledging their rights.
Millions of European children have poor health because of the poverty in which they live. According to UNICEF, the number of children living in households that do not include a working adult has (...)

Young people provide visions on inequalities

European adolescents are being interviewed about inequality and health in preparation for a conference in Copenhagen in December 2002.
Young people in several European countries are being asked their thoughts about social inequalities in health. The opinions expressed will be represented in a video to be shown at the Danish presidency conference on "Social inequalities in health among children and young people" taking place in Copenhagen, 9-10 December 2002.
Preliminary results of the (...)

Do children have a right to health?

One of the principal stated objectives of the European Union is to establish European citizenship, including fundamental rights. Yet the existing competence of EU does not take children’s rights into account. European NGOs are campaigning to achieve a legal base for children in the Treaty. The current legal status of the child in the EU Treaty is unclear, according to the European Children’s Network (Euronet), a network of NGOs campaigning for the rights of children within the European (...)

Resources on children’s health in Europe

World Health Organization
The child and adolescent health and development programme of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe assists European member states to take appropriate measures to pursue the full implementation of the health-related articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
(www.who.dk/eprise/main/WHO/Progs/CHD/Home)
The Children’s health and environment programme is based in Rome.
http://www.who.dk/eprise/main/WHO/Progs/CHE/Home
The (...)

WTO Agreements and public health - briefing of a joint study

The linkage between public health and international trade is increasingly recognised as an area of great significance for health. Here, we outline the areas covered, and issues involved, in a study that has been undertaken by the secretariats of two international organisations most involved.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization Secretariat (WTO) have published a joint study of the relationship between trade rules and public health. The 171-page study (...)