Rapid Responses to:

NEWS: Peter Moszynski New index ranks African countries on child welfare BMJ 2008; 337: a2607 [Full text]

Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article

Rapid Responses published:

Provision, protection and perspective.

Adeniyi S Adetoki   (21 November 2008)

Provision, protection and perspective. 21 November 2008
Adeniyi S Adetoki, SHO Psychiatry Solihull Hospital, Lode Lane, Solihull B91 2BA Send response to journal: Re: Provision, protection and perspective.	It was not altogether surprising though nonetheless unfortunate that Nigeria (the fabled “sleeping giant of Africa”) continues to be one of the poor performers on the league table of African nations with regards to health expenditure in general and the welfare of children in particular. It can only be hoped that policy makers will take a cue from this and strive for improvement. Going though 'The African Report on Child Wellbeing: How Child- Friendly are African Governments', it is clear that a lot of concerted effort is necessary to improve the lot of the African child in terms of protective legislative safeguards. In moving towards this ideal, it might be relevant to keep in mind the pitfalls of the negative extremes of Government involvement in children’s welfare. African Governments obviously have a lot to learn from the economically more advanced countries of the world in putting in place structures for ensuring that their citizens and particularly children are adequately protected and provided for. However, situations in the western world where for example children are coached to call the police on their parents and parents are scared of correcting their children for fear of being interrogated or arrested in my opinion leaves something to be desired. Granted these are extremes, but still worth keeping in mind. The converse is also probably true that developed countries of the world could learn a thing or two from the less economically advanced countries of Africa where healthy moral and cultural values are concerned. There is a difference between the social and moral values of Governments and of societies. Committing resources to social services might improve health and education, but a society spiralling out of control due to decay in social and moral values is unlikely to maintain the claim to the high ground of advancement for long. Competing interests: None declared