Healthy child contests (HCC) are commonly organized to promote awareness to- wards positive health of the child. Selection of the healthy child is a difficult task and concerns regarding partialities and subjective errors are often raised(1). At times only weight, fair complexion, nice dress, etc. are given paramount importance. There have been instances when a rachitic child won the prize at a local baby show. In order to minimize personal bias and subjective errors in assessment, I suggest the following protocol while conducting HCC.

Every child participating in HCC should be assessed by a team of five judges-each assessing different parameter(s), as per a fixed format carrying equal number of marks (Table I).

The marks are added to decide the winner. While conducting HCC it has also been felt that: (a) A nominal entry fee should be charged so that only interested persons participate; (b) Child comforts like-place for breast feeding, toilets, snacks, etc. should be provided (c) All participants should be given some token prize; and (d) Opportunity should be utilized to simultaneously provide health education and immunization.

There is a need to make the procedure of conducting HCC more objective and un- biased. Comments from fellow pediatricians will help formulate some standard guidelines for better organization of HCC,

 

which form one of the 20 point programme of lAP week celebrations.