BUSAN, MANILA, GENEVA, 10 June 2009—Health and environmental experts from over 60 countries meeting in Busan this week have today unanimously adopted The "Busan Pledge for Action on Children’s Health and the Environment". The Pledge calls for urgent action by governmental decision makers, health providers, educators and scientists to end unnecessary deaths of children from preventable environmental hazards. The pledge specifically identifies the need for strengthened advocacy, communications, training and research.
Experts gathered in Busan were particularly concerned about new and significant health risks to children worldwide from the increased production and movement of chemicals and hazardous waste, radiation and the effects of global climate change. The Pledge outlines 10 areas for action, including calls for raising public and policy maker awareness of the need for strengthening public health systems to monitor and reduce new risks to children from early exposures and climate change. Also highlighted was the need for further research on the impact of early childhood exposures and subsequent learning difficulties as well as social and behavioural problems in adolescence.
“The Busan Pledge to Action provides a much needed boost to global, regional, national and local efforts to address and prevent much disease and many tragic and unnecessary children’s deaths from environmental hazards, “ stated Dr Maa Nee Lee, Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea. “We know what is causing these deaths and we know how to prevent them. The pledge aims to renew and enhance political commitment to action."
More than 3 million children under the age of 5 die every year from diseases, infections and injuries related to their surrounding environments. Worldwide, it is estimated that one-quarter of the global burden of disease (GBD) can be attributed to environmental risk factors. Over 40% of the environmental disease burden falls on children under 5 years of age, yet these constitute only 10% of the world population
Common environmental health risks include unsafe drinking water, indoor smoke, inadequate or contaminated food supply, poor housing, lack of protection from disease vectors such as mosquitos, dangerous traffic conditions, lack of hygiene and sanitation, as well as unsafe use of chemicals and inadequate waste disposal systems. Importantly, these risks are significantly worsened by climate change, pandemics and the global financial crisis.
Yet, simple cost effective interventions exist that can make children’s environments safer and can prevent childhood deaths and illness caused by acute respiratory infections, vector-borne diseases, diarrhoea, and traffic related injuries. One success story is the removal of lead from gasoline which has reduced exposed children’s blood lead concentrations and has resulted in improved children’s IQ levels and overall well-being. Continued efforts need to be made to reduce exposure of children to lead from other sources.
Additionally, the elimination of the use of mercury in health care and consumer products, moving away from solid indoor fuels, use of insecticide treated bednets, improved water and sanitation systems, traffic slowing measures and a host of other interventions have successfully reduced children’s environmental related deaths and suffering in many countries. Safe conditions in Settings -- homes, schools, play grounds, as well as hospitals -- where children spend time are particularly important.
“Children are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of many chemical, biological and physical agents,” stated Dr Maria Neira, WHO's Director for the Department of Public Health and Environment. “All children should have the right to safe, clean and supportive environments that ensure their survival, growth, development, healthy life and well-being. This is particularly important as the world moves towards green growth and sustainability for better health outcomes. By doing so we will create a series of health, economic, and social co-benefits that improve the health and well being of our future generation.”
Delegates and participants stressed the need to address health, environment and green economic development issues in an inter-related and mutually reinforcing way. Participants committed to actively seek and strengthen partnerships with civil society, and the private sector, and to share their expertise in effecting change to improve environmental conditions for children.
“This conference has gone a long way towards generating new synergies of action and complementarity between health and environment for sustainable development,” stated Mr Young Hak Yoo, Vice-Minister for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, Republic of Korea. “Its overall message is clear, for all those concerned about the environmental health of children, the time to translate knowledge into action is now.”
The three day event held in Busan, Republic of Korea was attended by over 600 leading experts, researchers, policy and decision makers, scientists, high-level officials, academics, bilateral & multilateral institutions and NGOs from 60 countries and 223 national and international organizations.