Medical experts have warned that the rising consumption of fast food and unhealthy snacks among young children is leading to frequent infections and a steady decline in immunity, forcing repeated use of antibiotics at an early age causing further weak immunity in children.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day National Conference, Prof. Waseem Jamalvi, President of the Pakistan Pediatric Association (Sindh Branch), stressed that mothers should breastfeed their children until the age of two, as breast milk contains natural antibodies that protect infants from a wide range of infections. He noted that weakened immunity due to repeated illnesses has become a growing concern among children.
Prof. Jamalvi expressed serious concern over changing feeding habits, pointing out that it has become common for mothers to give potato fries and packaged drinks to children under one year of age causing weak immunity in children. He said that older children are increasingly consuming fast food items such as burgers, chips, French fries and other fried foods, which are contributing to throat, stomach and other infections, severely affecting children’s immune systems.
He added that physical activity plays an important role in strengthening immunity and protecting children from various diseases. He further emphasized that if 90 percent of children in the country receive proper immunisation, diseases such as polio and other preventable illnesses can be eradicated.
Other experts, including Dr. Saad Chachar, Dr. Khalid Shafi and Prof. Iqbal Memon, also addressed the conference. Prof. Iqbal Memon said that although the health department is providing immunisation services, many parents avoid vaccinating their children due to misconceptions and doubts, which hampers disease control efforts. He revealed that the cost of vaccines at the government level ranges between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 per child.
Experts have also raised concerns that negligence in child rearing is seriously affecting the mental development and growth of children, with many showing signs of psychological issues from an early age.
On the concluding day of the conference, multiple sessions were held focusing on disease prevention and child health, with experts unanimously urging parents to adopt healthier dietary practices and ensure timely immunisation to safeguard children’s future.
