Experts speak of isolation of children

The National Convention of Healthy Parents and Children 21, 2007, also known as the National Convention of Maternal and Child Health (MCH)/Family Planning (FP), was held in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, from 14th to 16th November, under the topic of raising children.

Supported by MCH related organizations, including the Japan Family Planning Association and the MCH Promotion Council, the convention was attended by around 1,000 MCH promoting and medical representatives, midwives, public health and school nurses, and health administrators from all over Japan.

One-hundred and eighty-three individuals and 25 organizations received awards from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and others for contributions to the promotion of MCH/FP and child raising.

In a keynote presentation on adolescent issues, Osamu Mizutani, a former teacher, spoke on the psychological difficulties he encountered in children he taught, leading to avoiding school, drug abuse and even suicide.

He stressed that children feel isolated so it is very important to listen to them as the first key to solving their problems.

He also mentioned that a result of the ‘Internet society' in which young people live is a lack of warmth and consideration when communicating as face-to-face contact is lost, and this is harmful for normal psychological development.

Professor Naoko Misawa, Clinical Psychiatrist, and four panelists discussed how an African proverb states that children are brought up by their villagers, noting that in modern society, nuclear or single parent families were the norm, thereby affecting the development of children.

"Nobody's Perfect" is a Canadian public health scheme of parenting education for parents of children up to five years old, and the panelists discussed how it could be applied to Japan, especially as many mothers are isolated during the day and have little experience of babies, having grown up without younger siblings or interacting with relatives.

"Nobody's Perfect" was well received by the audience

The panelists suggested parents set up their own support groups to help solve the problems of child rearing, and that more assistance was required to create a supportive environment for parents to raise healthy children.

On 15th November, around 150 MCH Promoters to exchange information and good practices.

2007 saw the government introduce a national health scheme "Hello Baby," in which MCH Promoters focus on the wellbeing of 4-month old babies through home visits, as statistically, after three months, mothers are most likely to then start abusing their babies because of the stress.

Although Japan is economically well developed and there are many resources, psychological health and the development of children are seen to be suffering in a country with a falling population.

MCH Promoters from all over the country
energetically share experiences

Speaking to the MCH Promoters, Yasuo Kon, Chairman, and Ryoichi Suzuki, Deputy Executive Director, JOICFP, thanked the promoters for their tireless efforts in taking care of mothers and children.

Suzuki noted that the MCH Promoter system had been successfully applied in Myanmar, where 1,672 MCH promoters now operate in two Townships in Northern Shan State.

He said that Japan's great experience could be utilized by other countries as well since the health of mothers and children was something that transcended all borders, politics and religion, and that the health of children was the foundation on which every country rested.