Asia Pacific Journal of Pediatric and Child Health

Abstract Ref Number = APCP74

Invited Speakers

Advocacy for 21st Century Child Health

Chokwan CHAN Past President of the International Pediatric Association IPA Honorary President of the AsiaPacific Pediatric Associatioin APPA Board Chairman of the Hong Kong Paediatric Foundation

Advocacy is a set of attitudes values and principles that direct to effect changes towards a recommended policy. An advocate may create a climate for changes and bring decision makers to a position of having to act. Change in policy or a practice must be developed by those responsible for its implementation, such as governments or service providers. Child advocacy are advocacy organizations who speak out for the best interest of children. As children are vulnerable, voiceless and powerless in real life, healthcare professionals serving children and youth are obliged to help them to achieve the highest potential in life! In Hong Kong, child healthcare workers are struggling for a Child Health Policy, a Children’s Commissioner and an Institute for Child Health. These exemplify advocacy work for professioals in a community striving for children’s rights and benefits! 21st century child health includes children from conception to adolescence and also includes transition from adolescence to adulthood. It covers the sectors of medical, social and education involving multidisciplinary team approach as well as domains at home, school and the community. It includes care of normal children, children with special needs and children in special situations. Definition of health is not merely free from diseases but aims at enhancement of one’s highest potential in life! The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nation and a universal call to action to protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The SDGs cover a broad range of social, economic and health developmental issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment and social justice. These set the direction of child health globally for the coming decades. Within the Asia Pacific Region, an innovative event occurred: we hosted a Strategic Action Workshop organized by the Executive Committee of the Asia Pacific Pediatric Association (APPA) in April 2018 at Fukuoka Japan on “Future Direction of Child Health in the Region". We concluded that hospital paediatrics in general are quite up to world standard. However, we are deficient in Community Child Health, Mental Health and Adolescent Health. We should also emphasis on Education, Advocacy, Ethics and Research from now on. These pave future direction for child health for the Asia Pacific Regon. At Global Child Health we care for “Every Child, Every Age and Everywhere” and at the international Pediatric Association, we are committed to “Healthy children for Healthy World”! Let us work together for the benefit and welfare of the children we serve!

Keywords: