In recent times, mainland China has greatly improved the health of its people while sustaining its economic growth. Some of these achievements have been a model for developing countries worldwide. But its health gains are being curtailed by the environmental consequences of its rapid growth.
For the last 50 years, China has also made impressive advances in public health by improving access to health care and tackling infectious diseases, with remarkably good results. The average life expectancy is now 71.8 years, up from 35 in 1949, while immunisation coverage is over 95 per cent for those under the age of one. The rates of infant and child mortality have fallen dramatically, and Unicef has found that, since 1978, the number of health facilities on the mainland has increased by 82 per cent and the number of health staff by 88 per cent.
But, in spite of these improvements, significant challenges for maternal and child health care remain. For example, emergency obstetric and newborn care is deficient, particularly for people living in remote areas. Child mortality rates in remote areas are several times higher than those in urban areas.
Given that the mainland's progress on environmental issues has not been as sustained as its growth, the effect of environmental pollution is worrying, particularly on children.
Water pollution, for one, is a serious concern. Sewage and agricultural waste contaminate water supplies and lead to a host of waterborne illnesses. In addition, rivers that are used as a source of drinking water are contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic from industrial discharges.
Unicef reports that China is one of the countries in the world most seriously affected by arsenic contamination. Several studies carried out on the effects of drinking arsenic-contaminated water show serious effects on children's intellectual development.