District of Columbia’s Plan of Attack on Children’s Health

District of Columbia’s Plan of Attack on Children’s Health in General Healthcare

The number of health issues among children in the District of Columbia is a growing problem. In some areas of the D.C. area, it’s estimated up to 45 percent of children are obese and are at risk of heart disease and diabetes, reported The Washington Post.

Surveys also show one third of the children in Washington D.C. use alcohol and 10 percent binge-drink, wrote the Post.

“The global health of the children living in the District of Columbia is challenged,” said Mark Weissman, chief of general pediatrics of Children’s National Medical Center.

To fight many of these problems threatening children’s well-being, state health officials and health organizations have created the Child Health Action Plan.

The effort against childhood obesity will include expanding fitness programs and increasing access to healthy, nutritional foods in schools and communities. The Plan will also push to get health insurance coverage for obesity-related conditions in children.

The Plan will also help educate parents and children about drug and alcohol use — through a series of public events and initiatives.

Other goals of the Child Health Action Plan include reducing emergency room visits for asthma, reduce the rate of chlamydia infections, and increase the number of visits to the dentist.

“We should be able to get our arms around these boys and girls and do a better job of caring for them,” added Weissman.

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