On World Health Day, PAHO Director calls for collaborative action to protect the health of the planet and its people-PAHO / WHO

Washington, DC, April 7, 2021 (PAHO)-Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Carissa F. Etienne loses millions of lives from the virus after a two-year COVID-19 pandemic I did. He emphasized how urgent protection of the environment and global health relate to ourselves.

“The so-called triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is affecting the health of all people, not just our planet. These effects prevent illness and crisis, Amplified by flaws in the infrastructure and medical systems to effectively respond to disasters and emergencies, “said the director at a high level. Online event Titled “Our Planet, Our Health”, there were more than 400 participants.

The region’s health ministers, including Dr. Carla Vizzotti, Minister of Health of Argentina, Dr. Jose Manuel Matheu, Minister of Health of Honduras, and Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Welfare of Jamacia, participated in the virtual PAHO event. The same was true for Dr. Jacqueline Alvarez, Director of the Caribbean for Latin America and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) that day.

Dr. Etienne focused on the Americas as one of the world’s most unequal regions, “where wealth inequality, political inequality, and social inequality are widespread,” and “health of the most vulnerable people.” We must make further transformational efforts to protect ourselves. ” From environmental risks. “

“For the past three decades, we have witnessed collaborative global action to build a sustainable planet. During this period, we have improved and improved the health services of people in the Americas. I noticed, “said the PAHO director. For example, cooperation between departments across health, water and sanitation has reduced the risk of death for children under the age of 5 from 219 to 23 per 100,000 population. This has saved the lives of 1.8 million young people since 1990, “says Dr. Etienne.

Nonetheless, an estimated 1 million premature deaths are due to avoidable environmental risks each year in the Americas. Poor hygiene, including air pollution, polluted water, and solid waste management, risks associated with certain hazardous chemicals, and adverse effects associated with climate change are the most pressing environmental public health issues for the region. It’s a threat.

“Our planet, our health, which is the theme of today’s World Health Day, is a green and healthy from the COVID-19 pandemic that puts the health of individuals and the planet at the center of action and promotes the movement to create society. Call for a pandemic recovery. Dr. Etienne urged Member States to re-commit to regional solidarity and strengthen personal and collective action to better protect the health of the region.

To help countries move forward in addressing environmental and health challenges, PAHO launched the Americas Agenda on Health, Environment and Climate Change last year, 2021-2030. The agenda benefits all countries and regions, among other things, by promoting good governance practices, strengthening the role of leadership and coordination in the health sector, and facilitating inter-sectoral action.

“We are not only the caretakers of today, but the architects of tomorrow, so the future depends on us,” Dr. Etienne concludes.

###

Media background information:

• Approximately 431 million people in the Americas still do not have access to safe hygiene, of which 9.9 million are still open defecation. 161 million people still do not have access to safe drinking water, leading to preventable deaths for about 30,000 people each year.
• Air pollution in the region’s homes and surroundings due to stroke, heart disease, lung disease, and cancer is associated with preventable deaths of approximately 320,000 people annually. Worldwide, approximately 80 million people continue to rely on contaminated fuels such as solid fuels and kerosene to support their lighting, cooking and heating needs. This is a problem that affects women and children disproportionately.
• People are still exposed to dangerous chemicals such as mercury, lead and pesticides. Not only do they endanger the health of those who are directly exposed, but they also endanger the health of the fetus, which can be adversely affected throughout life.
• Extreme weather directly increases the prevalence of some illnesses and can cause injuries and death. In addition, changing climate patterns change human health by exacerbating food and water anxiety and migration, impairing mental health, and changing the normal patterns of zoonotic and water-borne infections. There is a possibility. People living in poverty due to unstable housing conditions in small islands and coastal areas are at greater risk due to more frequent and severe weather events and rising sea levels and reduced adaptability.
• New environmental hazards to health are increasingly being recognized. Examples include exposure to substances in e-waste, environmental and health effects of micro and nanoplastics, and increased antimicrobial resistance.