AMA establishes new committee to focus on child health
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that the AMA has established the AMA Advisory Committee on Child and Youth Health to develop a position statement on child health and provide a future advocacy framework for the organisation to lobby Governments and other stakeholders.
Dr Phelps said the Committee would be chaired by former AMA (SA) President and eminent paediatrician, Dr Michael Rice, of Adelaide.
"The AMA wants to spearhead a program to promote the importance of the Australian community investing in the health of our children," Dr Phelps said.
"Our children are our greatest asset.
"There is substantial international and Australian evidence that providing a supportive environment for our young children and teenagers will lead to greater health, social and economic benefits for the whole community well into the future.
"While young Australians are generally healthy, some groups remain vulnerable - most notably Aboriginal and ethnic groups and those with socio-economic disadvantage.
"There is also evidence of links between poor education and poor health outcomes.
"We need early intervention and preventive measures to enrich the environment for all our children, with a special emphasis on the disadvantaged.
"Areas of concern include diet and nutrition, emotional and intellectual development, and early childhood education," Dr Phelps said.
CONTACT: Dr Michael Rice, (08) 8267 3911
Sarah Crichton, (02) 6270 5472, 0419 440 076