Abstract

The health of children is first and foremost a parental responsibility, however, society has a vested interest in ensuring that the rights and needs of children are respected. Promoting and caring for the health and welfare of children is an investment in the future and Child Health Surveillance (CHS) is a vital component of this process. CHS is an aspect of health care, which is often misunderstood, maligned and considered a soft (less important) option compared with acute medical care. The aim of this article is to demonstrate otherwise by clarifying what it is, why it is done, what CHS programs consist of and who should do them. In conclusion, consideration is given to the future of CHS.