all deaths in children under the age of 5 years in the developing world occupational accidents are high. The effects of those exposures and are due to diarrhoeal disease. One million deaths due to measles another long working hours without rest frequently lead to chronic disease and common but preventable childhood infection, were recorded in 1995 Other infectious diseases, such as river blindness, malaria and tuberculosis, may cause life -long and often debilitating functional improving employment opportunities for adults Combating infection by legislation against and regulation of child labour(introduction of la bels marking products not manufactured by children has been publicising the availability and promoting the up-take of immunisa providing access to free schooling, and facilitating enrolment for all combating"vaccine fatigue(which has increased in industrialised creating safer work environments countries) through educational efforts, using health visitors or the reducing domestic overcrowding, and improving housing and on, to reduce transmission of infections 1. Kuh D, Ben-Shlomo Y(eds). A Life Course Approach to Chronic Disease Epidemiology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1997 promoting safe water supply, frequent hand washing and good food 2. Barker DJP ers, Babies and Health in Later Life. Churchill hygiene to prevent transmission of diarrhoeal disease providing early diagnosis of and access to therapy for infections, for 3. ForastieriV. Children at Work: Health and safety risks. Internatio- example through government policies, which offer free treatment for nal Labour Organization, Child Labour Collection, 1997. the most debilitating diseases (eg. free leprosy treatment in India) promoting breastfeeding 3.5 Working children The International Labour Organisation es es that the number of working children below the age of 15 is 120 million worldwide The issue is complex as in many cases the child 's income is essential to the familys survival. The work is often carried out in hazardous indus- tries, where exposure to toxic substances and pollution and the risks of 99 all deaths in children under the age of 5 years in the developing world are due to diarrhoeal disease. One million deaths due to measles, another common but preventable childhood infection, were recorded in 1995. Other infectious diseases, such as river blindness, malaria and tuberculosis, may cause life-long and often debilitating functional disabilities. Combating infection by l publicising the availability and promoting the up-take of immunisa￾tion programmes l combating ‘vaccine fatigue’ (which has increased in industrialised countries) through educational efforts, using health visitors or the media l reducing domestic overcrowding, and improving housing and sanitation, to reduce transmission of infections l promoting safe water supply, frequent hand washing and good food hygiene to prevent transmission of diarrhoeal disease l providing early diagnosis of and access to therapy for infections, for example through government policies, which offer free treatment for the most debilitating diseases (eg. free leprosy treatment in India) l promoting breastfeeding 3.5 Working children The International Labour Organisation estimates that the number of working children below the age of 15 is 120 million worldwide. The issue is complex as in many cases the child’s income is essential to the family’s survival. The work is often carried out in hazardous indus￾tries, where exposure to toxic substances and pollution and the risks of occupational accidents are high. The effects of those exposures and long working hours without rest frequently lead to chronic disease and disability. Promoting a safer childhood by l improving employment opportunities for adults l legislation against and regulation of child labour (introduction of la￾bels marking products not manufactured by children has been suggested) l providing access to free schooling, and facilitating enrolment for all children l creating safer work environments Bibliography 1. Kuh D, Ben-Shlomo Y (eds). A Life Course Approach to Chronic Disease Epidemiology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1997. 2. Barker DJP. Mothers, Babies and Health in Later Life. Churchill Livingston, Edinburgh, London, New York 1998. 3. Forastieri V. Children at Work: Health and safety risks. Internatio￾nal Labour Organization, Child Labour Collection, 1997