Health: Healthy Worldwide Children

Thanks to the recent assignments I have been receiving on the topic of childhood obesity, I’ve been inspired to write a couple words on the topic of childhood health – and this time I truly do mean a couple words.

Going through the news this past week there were a number of articles that touched on the pressing dangers of unhealthy childhood. An article in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe, based out of Toronto, touches on the topic of “wheat-washing” – the marketing of food as whole wheat products to give the illusion of health. Another newspaper, The Independent Online, based in Cape Town, South Africa, discusses new statistical proof on how alcohol abuse is “frying the brains” of South African youths. A newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, The Sunday Herald Sun, documents an increase of childhood obesity, diabetes and depression.

These may all be different issues, but they happen everywhere. They also evidence the growing worldwide concern for youth and their health. The decline in teenage and childhood wellbeing is a worldwide problem and something that is in desperate need of a solution.

Friday, Oct. 13, I had the privilege of meeting Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon and listening to his address at the United States Peace Corps Headquarters. While he was there he talked about the nature of global issues saying: “Global problems have global impacts and they need global solutions.”

I think that he is right. These issues are a result of a worldwide shift. Based on the globalization of our planet, we cannot control these issues on a local scale. I’m not arguing that localized programs are a problem, but they are lacking the coordination that a worldwide program could have – and as a result they also lack the worldwide sharing of successful tactics.

I’m still debating if this is an issue for a multinational organization, such as the United Nations, of if it could be sustained by a non-governmental organization. However, I think it is self-evident that we need a worldwide sustainable solution.