Toronto: Concerned about the rising respiratory diseases in children, Canadian doctors are asking the government to take action as soon as possible.
A statement issued by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) said that children are getting sick in large numbers due to influenza, RSV and Covid-19 in this winter season.
Healthcare workers have put in full force to recover the children. Children are more affected than adults in having long waiting times for surgeries, waiting for diagnostic imaging and mental health services, the CMA said.
In British Columbia, five children had died last month from influenza amid rise of early season respiratory illnesses.
BC’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said that this year children are getting more sick due to the flu strain H3N2. According to teachers, this time the attendance of children in schools has also decreased due to being sick.
Due to the long waiting time and the rush in the clinics, some parents are getting RSV testing done privately.
The CMA has been demanding the government to meet the shortage of staff and rectify several important issues of the healthcare system at the earliest.