World Children’s Day Calls For Action

Quality access to healthcare is not a privilege, but more importantly a right for every child.

This was the assurance from Colonial War Memorial Hospital head of paediatrics Dr Ilisapeci Vereti while com­memorating World’s Children’s Day yesterday.

Dr Vereti said the paediatric unit was creating awareness on non-communicable diseases in children with special em­phasis on congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

CAH is not so com­mon, but easily fatal condition with nine reported cases re­ceived by hospital since January 2023.

Dr Vereti said CAH was a genetic dis­order that affects the adrenal glands which are found above the kidney.

“About one in 50 people carry a CAH gene and if both parents are carriers, there is a one in four chances that their child will be born with congenital adrenal hyperplasia,” she said.

“It is important for children to have the right information concerning well clinics, and any sickness that they might be experiencing.

“We urge members of the public not to shy away from visit­ing their nearest medical clinics.”

Dr Vereti said if this kind of cases went into crisis, it would be life threatening, which was what they were trying to avoid.

“It is common for people to carry congenital adrenal hyper­plasia gene without knowing it, so we ask that parents bring in their children at the earliest if they see any signs of the disease,” Dr Vereti said.

Feedback: sosiveta.korobiau@fijisun.com.fj