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Schoolchildren’s increasingly poor health demands islandwide Child Support Centres
View(s):The country is in need of child-support centres island-wide to address rising child-related Health concerns varying from malnutrition, over nutrition and psychiatric issues, a senior official in charge of school Health division warned.
In an interview with Education Times, Medical Officer of the Health Ministry’s School Health Office, Dr. Chintha Karunaratne said many present-day schoolchildren suffer from psychological problems triggered by a number of factors.
Students diagnosed as being undernourished stand holding bags of the nutritional supplement thriposha. The School Health Office in Colombo issues this supplement to them every month. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe
“Some children come from broken families; some suffer from lack of confidence due to obesity, while exam stress and poverty are other issues. Negligence and lack of attention from parents is common among children from affluent and working-parents families,” she said.
Dr. Karunaratne said that, among other mental illnesses are depression, anxiety disorder and eating disorder. According to her, bullying prevails in Colombo schools, while Health officers have also received complaints of poor concentration, aggressive behaviour and constant sleepiness.
“We refer students of such nature for psychiatric treatment or counselling,” she added.
Dr. Karunaratne said that, among other mental illnesses are depression, anxiety disorder and eating disorder. According to her, bullying prevails in Colombo schools, while Health officers have also received complaints of poor concentration, aggressive behaviour and constant sleepiness
She said schoolchildren between the ages of 9 and 12 suffer from malnutrition.
“In the first two years, parents ensure their child has breakfast before leaving for school. Then poor dietary habits creep in from Grade 4. Many children skip breakfast and during the morning tea break (interval) have a substitute breakfast, but not a healthy one,” she said.
The School Health Office examined children from 114 Colombo schools. They noticed an increase in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cholesterol among the children.
“Over nutrition is another serious issue among children, especially from leading schools within Colombo city limits. This is not only based on meals they have at school, but also at home and outside. Fast food and items such as pasta and fried rice that contain more carbohydrates and fat are contributing to obesity among children, while intake of green leaves and vegetable salads are decreasing” Dr. Karunaratne said.
“Child support centres should also provide counselling for children suffering from obesity,” she added.
Apart from the dental checkup and eye test, the School Health Office also provides nutritional supplement thriposha, iron supplements and worm treatment. Schoolchildren are also given diet plans, recommended with exercises, and advise both children and parents on Child Health concerns.
- Nadia Fazlulhaq