Protection of the Human Environment (PHE)

Overview

Achieving the MDGs and other internationally agreed development goals in Africa holds the promise of saving millions of lives. Improving the environment – provision of safe water, safe sanitation, management of vectors of public health interest - remains one of the most key interventions in pursuit of improved health outcomes for the populations in the African Region. Environmentally linked illnesses are amongst the top plaguing the lives of the populations in particular the very young and vulnerable groups within communities. More than 44% have no access to safe drinking water while less than 37% have access to safe sanitation. Air pollution remain one of the leading causes of child morbidity, traffic accidents claim millions of lives and occupational injuries and illness are a factor in contributing towards poverty and reduced life expectancy. Vector borne diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis are still among the major health problems due to proliferation of vectors as a result of, among others, ill-planned development and climate change.  The Africa Region is forecast to fall short of meeting most of the MDGs in particular those related to health.

Over the past two decades policy, legislative and regulatory frameworks that address environment–health linkages have been developed. Their effective implementation however, has been extremely limited, if at all.   Today Africa continues to face environmental challenges of the pre-industrial era, industrialization and of the twenty-first century, all in the context of strained public health systems

Key challenges faced by Member States include:

• The contribution and benefits of the environment to other determinants of health are not well understood by policy makers and planners;
• Awareness to be brought to African health sector personnel on mounting burden of disease from environmental health risks in the continent;
• Prioritising health and highlighting the health costs and benefits of the actions of key decision-makers within economic sectors at the centre of decision-making processes;
• Engagement of stakeholders to ensure translation of environment and health related policy, legislative and regulatory frameworks to practice;
• Bringing recognition to the contribution of reduced environmental hazards to the achievement of the relevant MDGs as well as socio-economic development to the attention of development partners.

Previous Events:
First Inter-Ministerial Conference on Health and Environment in Africa

Programme Area Coordinator

Dr L. Manga
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Tel:  +47 241 39 338
Fax:  +47 241 39 503