New Delhi: This is a challenge that the world has rarely faced. There are now millions of children and young adults around the world, including many in India, who are overweight and have or may develop health problems in the future. diabetesHigh blood pressure and chronic heart disease. Fast food diet is one reason, and UNICEFworking with Government of India and various other organizations to tackle the problem. “India has the largest youth and child population in the world. Youth need to know, learn and understand healthy diet, healthy lifestyle. Having such a growing youth population is a tremendous opportunity. Healthy lifestyle and healthy diet help in prevention We do noncommunicable diseases“Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India representative told Times Now.

If type-2 diabetes While diet-related, the Type 1 variety is a genetic disorder and, being more ‘accessible’, more and more cases are being found in association with other non-communicable diseases or NCDs such as sickle cell disease. NCD Week started in mid-October and was an opportunity to explain what NCDs are and what can be done about them, McCaffrey said. “If you give a child the knowledge, if you give the parents the knowledge about what a healthy, balanced diet is, and you establish healthy habits, you can help the child grow up eating a little healthier. “It’s junk food. It is increasing more. But if you give the right knowledge to the child and the parents, you will be able to instill in them what is important about a healthy lifestyle.” He added, “Also, it is important to educate the world about food. What to teach young people about a healthy diet, providing them with easily accessible information is helpful, but kids are smart. We can help them develop those habits by giving them information and knowledge.

Sedentary lifestyle is not a healthy lifestyle. “It’s OK to play video games. It’s just that you want to make sure that your life is balanced and staying active is extremely important. UNICEF is working with governments and for what we call games for development. Supporting efforts. It makes children active. Playing sports is not just about making sure that your lifestyle is healthy. It makes the child ask questions. Let’s build.” McCaffrey said he was “very proud of the work we did with the International Cricket Council” (and, the BCCI) during the World Cup. “We launched this across India, which we called Crio for Good. It’s a number of modules that talk about cricket and the lessons of cricket, including teamwork, solving problems together… A little boy who came to Gujarat and played with a team said: ‘I always liked cricket, but now I like it.’ It’s because he went out there, he played and he saw what he could do.”

India’s population is growing, and there are more young people. “Stronger systems to identify young people with NCDs such as type-1 diabetes mean that “numbers are rising.” It’s about diagnosing every child and ensuring they have access to “consistent, quality treatment.” This will ensure that children with type 1 diabetes have access to “consistent and good quality” insulin. “India has a strong public health system. We’re just building on that and making sure the referral system is close enough to a child.” The frontline system should be able to treat sickle cell anemia or type-1 diabetes every day. Nor would the economic Caring for youth in disadvantaged urban and rural areas is so challenging that teachers in schools can identify young children with problems and this includes Anganwadi, auxiliary nurses and ASHA workers, the leading workforce in India. and continually investing in providing information so they can ask and determine what type of health care their child may need. It takes input from government systems, from decision makers. “To ensure that health systems are strong, we want to invest in budgets where children are living, growing and playing.”

Early detection is the key. Then, a child who is living with type 1 diabetes “can receive treatment and live a playful, participatory, joyful life” when he or she is diagnosed early. She doesn’t have to struggle with what could end up being in the “emergency room” because insulin was necessary and not available. A healthy child will be able to go out and play, whereas a child who is sick or unwell will not be able to play. With that care the child can go to school, play with friends, do sports. All this happens when you get consistent, reliable, quality care.” UNICEF is continuously working with partners, governments, the private sector to ensure that we have everything we need to invest in the mental health of any child. What needs to be done: With potentially unhealthy children, it is important to have knowledge and understanding of what NCDs are and that they are something that can be treated. A teenager can be a part of any club or group.” Therefore knowledge and understanding is important for the child, but also for peers, teachers, parents and the entire community. It helps remove or reduce stigma. “It helps the child go outside and play, and be part of the community.”

It’s all teamwork: government, NGOs and UNICEF. “If we ever tried to do anything alone, it would have failed completely. We have been celebrating the partnership with India for the last 75 years. It enabled us to make many mistakes and learn many lessons together Is.” And it makes sure there are three C’s for kids: catalyze, connect and converge, McCaffrey said. With only one year left until the 2025 UN high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases or NCDs, much needs to be done to end preventable deaths and diseases from NCDs. One area that requires focused efforts from all stakeholders is to bring children, adolescents and young adults to the center of the NCD agenda.

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