Over-consumption in the richest countries is creating unhealthy, dangerous, and toxic conditions for children globally, according to a recent report by the UN Children's Fund (Unicef). "Not only are the majority of rich countries failing to provide healthy environments for children within their borders, but they are also contributing to the destruction of children's environments in other parts of the world," said Gunilla Olsson, director of the Unicef Office of Research – Innocenti. The latest Innocenti Report Card 17: Places and Spaces, published Tuesday, compares how 39 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and European Union (EU) impact children's environments. Indicators include exposure to harmful pollutants, such as toxic air, pesticides, damp and lead; access to light, green spaces and safe roads; and countries' contributions to the climate crisis, resource consumption, and e-waste dumping. Read: WHO: COVID-19 cases mostly drop, except for the Americas The report states that if the entire world consumed resources at the rate of the OECD and the EU countries, the equivalent of 3.3 earths would be needed to keep up with consumption levels. If it were at the rate at which people in Canada, Luxembourg and the US do, at least five earths would be needed. While Spain, Ireland and Portugal feature at the overall top of the list, all the OECD and the EU countries are failing to provide healthy environments for all children across all indicators. Based on CO2 emissions, e-waste and overall resource consumption per capita, Australia, Belgium, Canada and the US are among other wealthy countries that rank low on creating a healthy environment for children within and beyond their borders. Meanwhile, Finland, Iceland and Norway are among those that provide healthier environments for their country's children but disproportionately contribute to destroying the global environment. "In some cases, we are seeing countries providing relatively healthy environments for children at home while being among the top contributors to pollutants that are destroying children's environments abroad," said Gunilla. In contrast, the least wealthy OECD and EU countries in Latin America and Europe have a much lower impact on the wider world. Read: Davos climate focus: Can ‘going green’ mean oil and gas? Over 20 million children in this group have elevated levels of lead – one of the most dangerous environmental toxic substances – in their blood. Many children are breathing toxic air both in and outside of their homes. More than one in 12 children in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Israel and Poland are exposed to high pesticide pollution, which has been linked with cancer – including childhood leukaemia – and can harm vital body systems. "Mounting waste, harmful pollutants and exhausted natural resources are taking a toll on our children’s physical and mental health and threatening our planet’s sustainability," said Gunilla.

The Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Bill, 2021 was passed in Parliament on Wednesday, aiming to improve the healthcare services for children. Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque moved the Bill which was passed by voice vote. The bill was designed in line with the Dhaka Children Hospital Ordinance, 2008. The draft law was prepared merging Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital and Bangladesh Institute of Child Health for ensuring better healthcare services for children. Read:Bangladesh’s per capita foreign debt now stands at Tk 24,890 At present, Bangladesh Institute of Child Health is the academic wing of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. The Dhaka Shishu Hospital Ordinance, 2008 was promulgated during the caretaker government in 2008. Some 54 ordinances, out of 122, promulgated during the caretaker government were approved in Parliament following the recommendations of the special committee of the 9th parliament. But the Dhaka Shishu Hospital Ordinance and 67 others were not endorsed at that time. Dhaka Shishu Hospital, established in 1977, became an autonomous institute under an ordinance promulgated in 2008 by the then interim government. The Bangladesh Institute of Child Health was established in 1983 as an academic wing of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. Read:Medical Degrees (Repeal) Bill goes through Parliament So, there was no complete law or ordinance over regulation and supervision of the activities of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. As per the article 21 of the draft law, there will be a 13-member board of directors to run the hospital as an autonomous body. A director of the hospital would be the executive officer of the hospital while each director would be appointed for three years. At least 30 seats would be reserved for child patients of poor families.

The Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Bill, 2021 was placed in Parliament on Monday, aiming to improve healthcare services for children. Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective Standing Committee for further examination.  Read: Medical College (Governing Bodies) (Repeal), Bill 2021 placed in parliament The Committee was asked to submit its report within seven days. The bill was designed in line with the Dhaka Children Hospital Ordinance, 2008. The draft law was prepared merging Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital and Bangladesh Institute of Child Health for ensuring better healthcare services for children. At present, Bangladesh Institute of Child Health is the academic wing of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. The Dhaka Shishu Hospital Ordinance, 2008 was promulgated during the caretaker government in 2008. Some 54 ordinances, out of 122, promulgated during the caretaker government were approved in Parliament following the recommendations of the special committee of the 9th parliament.  Read:Medical Degrees (Repeal) Bill placed in JS But the Dhaka Shishu Hospital Ordinance and 67 others were not endorsed at that time. Dhaka Shishu Hospital, established in 1977, became an autonomous institute under an ordinance promulgated in 2008 by the then interim government. The Bangladesh Institute of Child Health was established in 1983 as an academic wing of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. So, there is no complete law or ordinance over regulation and supervision of the activities of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. As per the 21 article of the draft law, there will be a 12-member board of directors to run the hospital as an autonomous body. Read: Bill passed to ensure safe child daycare centres A director of the hospital would be the executive officer of the hospital while each director would be appointed for three years. At least 30 seats would be reserved for child patients of poor families, he mentioned referring to a provision of the bill.