Prioritize health issues of children – Dr Adabie

Dr. John Adabie-Appiah, Consultant Paediatrician of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, has stressed the need to give priority attention to the health needs of children in the country.

He said it was important that children’s health were given greater attention by all stakeholders to help raise healthy and productive children, who would lead Africa to realize its dreams.

Dr Adabie-Appiah, who is also the Head of Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of KATH, was speaking at a symposium organized to mark the Day of the African Child in Kumasi.

The symposium was organized by Compassion International, a child centred organization to bring to the fore, some of the challenges facing children in the country.

It was under the theme “Humanitarian Action in Africa – Children’s Right First”.

Dr Adabie-Appiah stated that Africa needed to pay attention to the overall development which consisted of good health, education, clean water and a cleaner environment for children to grow and develop.

He encouraged parents to provide their children with basic tips on how to maintain themselves and stay healthy, adding that, children needed to be educated in terms of personal hygiene, sanitation and other basic things that promoted the holistic development and healthy growth of the child.

Dr Isaac Tandoh, Public Relations Officer for Compassion International, said children were the most vulnerable in the society and their cognitive, spiritual, socio-emotional, health and protection issues must be addressed properly.

He said Compassion International was aiming at working hard for every African child to be included in the development ladder.

In Ghana, Compassion International was operating in seven out of the sixteen regions and partnering with churches in the fight of releasing children out of poverty.