Children as health promoters

摘要

In India there have been substantial reductions in child mortality rates, gains in health, immunization levels, improved nutrition programmes and disease prevention (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 1999). More than 90% of the children are now surviving beyond the age of 5 years. As a result there are more children of school age and a higher proportion of children attending school than ever before. Despite the improvement in the survival of school-aged children, there is still a major burden of disease and ill health among this group, particularly poor nutrition and gastro-intestinal problems.