On 4-6 February 2004 a technical consultation reviewed the national profiles on the status of children’s environmental health in six African countries.
This consultation took place in Cape Town, South Africa, and was hosted by the Medical Research Council of South Africa on behalf of the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa (AFRO).
WHO also launched a new publication on children’s environmental health indicators: “Making a difference: indicators to improve children’s environmental health”. To order a copy, please contact the Marketing and Dissemination department of the WHO.
The WHO estimates that up to 70% of children who die in Africa succumb to diseases linked directly or indirectly to environmental risk factors.
These include respiratory infection, diarrhoea, measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition. Some 20% of children born in the Region may not live to see their fifth birthday and many who survive are not likely to live to develop their full potential because of long-term disorders.
The six major classes of environmental risks for African children are: inadequate access to safe drinking water, poor hygiene and sanitation, disease vectors, air pollution, chemical hazards and unintentional injuries.