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Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Speak out: Not only dengue fever
By Buddy Solon
(This letter is addressed to Nini Cabaero)
Dengue is not the only major threat to the health and well being of our children. Many of our pre-school and school-aged children in Cebu City are underweight and their growth has been stunted by inadequate nutrition.
Two years ago, when my son was still studying at the Cebu City National Science High School, I observed that at every start of a school year the new batch of freshmen seemed to be getting smaller in stature. I actually thought then that they were grade four pupils from another school waiting for their kuyas and ates.
Malnourished children have weakened immune system and thus become susceptible to illnesses including that caused by the dengue virus.
Another threat that our children have to deal with everyday is the worsening air pollution in Cebu City. It is a fact that the lead found in the air caused by the noxious fumes emitted by private and public vehicles causes children to have poor concentration skills and even makes them behave aggressively.
It is also a fact that pre-school children will lose four or more
higher I.Q. points due to the lead content in the air that we breathe.
Not only that, burning diesel and coal produces sulfur and various hydrocarbons that cause respiratory diseases and cancer.
I hope that our honorable City officials are aware of this triple-whammy that Cebu City's children have to face every single day.
You ask who's in charge? King Rat and his three fat and blind mice, that's who.
(August 24, 2005 issue)
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