Abbasi’s assertion of “society’s betrayal of children, their health, and our future” and the appalling decline in child health is sobering. The International Network for Epidemiology in Policy (INEP) represents 24 epidemiology societies across the globe and works to tackle policies that have global public health impacts, including the right to a healthy future.
Failure to consider children in public policies has had profoundly negative impacts. Policies related to the covid pandemic had a staggering effect on children, with 147 million missing more than 50% of in-person education in 2020-21. Social isolation negatively impacted the mental health of children and resulted in educational inequities and increased risk of abuse at home. Data on health inequities consistently show disproportionately greater climate related health impacts on children in disadvantaged countries. Political conflict and instability negatively impacts children, who account for 41% of displaced people globally. Children affected in the current violence in Israel and Palestine account for 42% or 6000 deaths as of December 2023. The psychological and mental illnesses and trauma that the surviving children will experience is devastating.
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