Medical professionals have urged the government to declare the liquid adhesives called bonds as narcotic items and restrict its availability so as to prevent the loss of neuromuscular coordination among children by sniffing them.
In a programme organised by the KONPAL Child Abuse Prevention Society, a non-governmental organisation comprising child specialists, they said that people in general and policymakers in particular must realise that substance abuse has emerged as a serious health threat for children and the youth.
They resolved that cooperation at all levels for the protection of children, be they abandoned or semi-abandoned street children or their fortunate counterparts living in comparatively safe environs.
Participants of the programme, including doctors, nurses and other paramedics, also urged all the provincial education departments to adopt a stringent policy to combat corporal punishment, which could have severe physical and psychological consequences for children.
The healthcare providers were unanimous in their appeal for an immediate ban on the sale of junk food as well as hazardous items such as sweetened supari (betel nuts), cigarette and paan masala (a concoction of betel leaves and chemicals) on school premises and within a mile radius of every school.
They said that junk food comprising high carbohydrates and fat items with low content of or no essential nutrients has led to a surge in diseases previously unheard of in children. They expressed their reservations regarding carbonated drinks as well.
As for paan and chhalia (betel nuts), they said that the two are directly linked to instances of mouth cancer, besides other health conditions.
