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Protect health from climate
change
SPEAKERS at the 17th International Children’s Health Conference
stressed upon the need of proper legislations, actions and
measurements to control the global warming and climate change which
is a significant and fastest emerging threat to public health and
safety of the globe.
The conference was held on the theme of “Protecting health from
climate change”, presided over by Dr. Khalif Bile Mohamud, WHO.
Representative in Islamabad, organized by the Hamdard Public School
and Hamdard Foundation Pakistan on the occasion of World Health Day
– 7th April at a local hotel.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Khalif Bile Mohamud extended his
gratitude to the organizers of the conference for organizing such an
important conference and paid tribute to Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said
who started this wonderful health conference of children, and done a
great job for the future of the world, the children.
Commending the thoughts and speeches, made by the children at the
conference, Dr. Khalif Bile Mohamud said that they had told us about
the things we were failed to do and implement to control the climate
change and global warming. However, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan was
with us and we could be able to do some thing to control this threat
to public health at least to the extent of Pakistan, he added.
“We need natural ratio of oxygen and carbon dioxide and recycling of
Carbon dioxide. If this cycle of carbon dioxide and oxygen is
changed, it would rise the global warming, which is what happening
now. If there is no Carbon dioxide, there would be more global
warming, which is a threat for the survival of human life on the
earth, he said adding that child speakers: Zainab Khalil was right
to say that modern man was at risk and threatened by harsh and
extreme climate change. Aneesa Fatima was aptly right when said that
floods, cyclones and Tsunami were the results of climate change.
Mohammed Huzaifa had suggested to change transport habit and to use
cycle in order to minimise traffic smoke on the roads. Sri Lankan
child speaker, Araneya Sidath Kumar talked about the rising of sea
level, threatening the safety of islands in Indian Ocean.
Child speaker Abdul Samad from Quetta pointed out that the
industrialized world, especially the US, steadfastly kept on course
to policies with minimum regard for environment and climate change.
Child speaker Ayman Murkaz Ahmed from Sudan was right to say that
hazardous omission from industries was a corruption and its effect
should not be passed on to other countries. Indonesian child
delegate, Rizky Agus Azhari told us what we should do to control
global warming and climate change. Japanese girl, Ms. Syed Shiza in
her speech gave us a clear solution as she said that economy and
money should not be more important for us than human life.
Dr. Bile said that all the child speakers were teaching us about
climate change in their speeches. Listening to future of the world,
the children, I was sure that we could save the world with
contribution towards the minimization of the effects of global
warming and climate change by every one of us. He immensely
appreciated the words of last speaker, Ms. Komal Rizwan from Lahore
that we should take on an oath, a pledge to save health and life
from the climate change and requested the audience to honor her
words.
Earlier, while delivering conference address, Mrs. Sadia Rashid,
President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan said that climate change
affected some of the most basic of determinants for life and health
– air, water and food had not just affected, but affected adversely.
“Poisonous gases are billowing out of the smoke stacks of factories
that are supposedly demonstrating progress. Deadly chemical, and
even nuclear waste seeping into subsoil water or flowing into river
and sea, to create a vicious circle of pollution, disease and death
– of whole eco-systems: Water from soil, or rain, or sea, hence of
fodder and food which grows and is eaten – directly or indirectly by
the species dependent on them for survival”, she said, adding:
“Finally, the human species is itself at risk and has no one to
blame but itself”.
Mrs. Sadia Rashid said that if current warming trends continued
unchecked, the results would be disastrous. Unfortunately and most
unfairly poor population and underdeveloped countries, who had done
least to contribute to global warming, would be the hardest hit, she
added.
She emphasized on increasing the level of awareness about this
important problem as the first pre-requisite for finding a solution
and told the audience that the second was action – not waiting for
someone else to take it, but doing yourself. “Remember: Every voice
and every action counts”, she added.
Sixteen child speakers from the main cities of Pakistan and foreign
countries of Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Indonesia and Japan
spoke on the occasion.
Professor Munira Gulzar, Principal of Hamdard Public School and
Hamdard College of Science and Commerce offered Vote of thanks.
Usman Hasan Khan, student, Hamdard College, compeer the conference.
Hamdard Public School presented tableau and Hamdard Village School
offered Dua-i-Said.
Besides, Ms. Fatima-tuz-Zaha, Mutawallia, Hamdard (Waqf) and Vice
President, Madinat al-Hikmah project; Dr. Nasim A. Khan, Vice
Chancellor, Hamdard University, foreign diplomats, elite of the
city, distinguished guests, Hamdard’s directors and managers,
educationists, parents and children in a large number attended the
conference.
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