Kids are most affected by global warming: Justice Devan Ramachandran

Kochi: Children are affected the most by the impact of global warming and their healthcare is of paramount importance, Justice Devan Ramachandran of the Kerala High Court said here on Thursday. The jurist, who had earlier dismissed a petition that sought to prevent alleged forced vaccination of children, was inaugurating Pedicon 2024, the 61st annual summit of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP).

The theme of the conference is ‘global warming and child health’. “A child is not a little adult. They are the class that is most vulnerable to every single change in nature because they breathe faster than us. The changes in the climatic system, including heat waves, affect them more. That is because they are in the developing stage. Now it is time for us to reflect upon what is facing us in the future,” he said.

Justice Ramachandran said the healthcare sector will now be marked as pre-Covid and post-pandemic times. IAP national president Dr GV Basavaraj presided over the function. Health Department principal secretary APM Muhammad Hanish and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) were among those who spoke. At the event, IAP also made a presentation of the project "IAP Ki Baath Community Ke Saath" to be implemented this year.

Kochi is hosting the pediatricians’ summit after 25 years. The conference is jointly organized by the IAP Kerala and Kochi chapters. Around 7,000 doctors from across the country are attending the event being held at Hotel Grand Hyatt and Lulu Bolgatty Convention Centre.