Healthy Environments for Children
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- Healthy Environments for Children
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Healthy Environments for Children
Q
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Printed in Switzerland - May 2003
o re w o ra
World Health Day 2003 - Shape
the Future of Life: Healthy
Environments for Children - was
a call to individuals, communities,
public and private organizations,
and municipal, regional and
national governments around the
world to do more to protect three
of our greatest assets: health, the
environment and our children.
Ensuring Healthy Environments for
Children is vital to our efforts to
help shape the future of life.
On 7 April, from India to Ireland,
and Chile to China, hundreds of
communities, teachers, local gov
ernments, civil society groups,
medical professionals and children
participated in events to support
solutions to minimize environmen
tal risks. The number of World
Health Day events was impressive.
But it was just the beginning.
Much more needs to be done to
reduce the millions of childhood
deaths resulting from unhealthy
environments. Children are paying
heavily for this neglect. Every year
more than five million children
between the ages of 0 and 14
die from diseases and conditions
caused by the environments in
which they live, learn and play.
The main killers are diarrhoea,
respiratory conditions, malaria
and other illnesses carried by
insects. Many child deaths result
from unintentional injuries, includ
ing road accidents and drownings.
These deaths are preventable.
WHO and its partners in the
Healthy Environments for Children
Alliance (HECA) have formulated
many simple and cost-effective
strategies that can protect children
from the risk of diseases related to
the environment. Simple measures
such as ensuring that children and
adults wash their hands with soap
or ash before eating and after defe
cating would lower the incidence of
diarrhoea - the world's second
biggest child-killer - even when
safe water is in short supply. We
must enable those responsible for
the health and well-being of chil
dren, as well as children themselves,
to put this knowledge into practice.
The events highlighted in this report
underscore the will to move for
ward, and to do better. This global
movement, the Healthy
Environments for Children Alliance,
set in motion only in September
2002 at the World Summit on
Sustainable Development, is grow
ing quickly. By working together on
many fronts, by building on existing
programmes, and by adapting con
crete actions to local needs, we can
make a real difference. Together,
we are better able to address the
many health and environment
issues faced by communities, coun
tries and regions around the world,
and improve children's lives. Let us
remember our World Health Day
pledge, and maintain the momen
tum to help shape the future of life.
Dr Cro Harlem Brundtland
Director-General
World Health Organization
nts
V
VI
Shaping the future for healthy environments
for children - supportive policy environments
20
List of countries that registered World Health Day events
21
challenge
Healthy Environments for Children
more food, air and water than
(HEC) was chosen as the theme for
adults do (in proportion to their
World Health Day 2003 (WHD)
weight), and they spend more time
when newly-compiled statistics
closer to the ground where dust
and chemicals accumulate.
revealed the shocking extent of
child deaths and injuries due to
environmental risk factors. More
Facts and figures
than 5 million children, ages 0-14,
die each year from environment-
□ Many of the diseases prevented
through use of water in
hygiene are the same as those
that can be transmitted by
water when contaminated. The
most important of these is diar
rhoea, which is estimated to
cause 1.3 million child deaths
per year - about 12% of total
deaths of children under the
age of five in developing coun
tries. Other infectious diseases
with similar patterns of trans
mission include hepatitis A and
E, dysentery, cholera and
typhoid fever.
related diseases and conditions
such as diarrhoea, respiratory ill
nesses, malaria and unintentional
injuries. Millions more children are
debilitated by environment-related
diseases or live with chronic condi
tions linked to their environment
ranging from allergies to mental
and physical disability. Forty per
cent of the global burden of dis
ease associated with environmental
risk factors fall on children under
the age of five.
Children are particularly vulnerable
to environmental hazards because
their immune, reproductive, diges
tive and central nervous systems
are still developing; they consume
sanitation, a number of major
diseases are transmitted through
faecal pollution of the household
and community environment.
Globally, 2.4 billion people, most
of them living in peri-urban or
rural areas in developing coun
tries, do not have access to any
type of improved sanitation
facilities.
□ Air pollution is a major environ
ment-related health threat to
children and a risk factor for
both acute and chronic respira
tory disease as well as other
diseases. Around 2 million chil
dren under five die every year
from acute respiratory infec
tions. Many are aggravated by
environmental hazards. Indoor
air pollution is a major factor
associated with acute respirato
ry infections in both rural and
urban areas of developing
countries.
■ The safe disposal of human fae
ces - including those of children
- is a prerequisite to protecting
health. In the absence of basic
3
■ The most common, and most
serious, vector-borne diseases
are transmitted by mosquitoes
that breed in water close to, or
within, the home.
• Malaria kills approximately
one million children per year,
many of them under five and
most of them in sub-Saharan
Africa.
• Dengue haemorrhagic fever
kills an estimated 10000 chil
dren per year, while Japanese
encephalitis kills an estimated
8000 children per year (90%
of whom are under five).
■ As a result of the increased pro
duction and use of chemicals, a
myriad of chemical hazards is
nowadays present in children's
homes, schools, playgrounds
and communities. Chemical
aged 0-14 years old, die every
year as a result of unintentional
poisoning.
■ Unintentional injuries include
road traffic injuries, poisonings,
falls, burns and drowning. In
2001, an estimated 685 000
children under the age of 15
were killed by such unintention
al injuries. Approximately 20%
of all deaths from unintentional
injuries world-wide occur in
children under 15 years old and
they are among the ten leading
causes of death for this age
group.
Priority risks to children
Six major risks need to be tackled
as a priority:
□ Household water security.
□ Hygiene and sanitation.
pollutants are released into the
environment by unregulated
industries or are emitted from
heavy traffic or toxic waste
sites. About 50000 children,
■ Air pollution (including indoor
air pollution and environmental
tobacco smoke).
0 Vector-borne diseases.
■ Chemical hazards (for example,
lead and the unsafe use of pes
ticides).
■ Unintentional injuries or acci
dents.
Most environment-related diseases
and deaths can be prevented using
effective, low cost and sustainable
tools and strategies.
Creating healthy settings
Children are often exposed to sev
eral risks to their health in the
same setting at the same time. The
problems are therefore best tackled
in an integrated way in the places
where children live, learn and play.
■ In homes: Safe and adequate
water supply, sanitation and
food preparation facilities; good
domestic hygiene; safe house
hold fuels and cooking stoves;
safe use and storage of chemi
cals; safe siting, structure and
furnishings.
□ In schools: Clean running
water; separate sanitation facili
ties for boys and girls; well-con
structed and maintained build
ings; protection from violence,
noise, traffic and industry; safe
play areas.
□ In communities: Clean air and
water resources; smoke-free
public places; adequate waste
water drainage and waste man
agement; safe recreational areas
and road traffic safety.
Responding to the challenge
Launched in 2002 at the World
Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg, the
Healthy Environments for Children
Alliance (HECA) is a worldwide
alliance to intensify global action
on environmental risks to children's
health, by providing knowledge,
increasing political will, mobilizing
resources and catalyzing action.
The Alliance is made up of govern
ments, civil society, nongovern
mental organizations (NCOs),
research and academic institutions,
professional associations, UN orga
nizations, development agencies,
banks and foundations, private
entities, and the media - across all
relevant sectors including health,
education, energy, housing, water,
planning and transport.
HECA aims to:
□ Ensure effective advocacy and
awareness-raising to create
healthy environments for chil
dren - to galvanize the political
will to tackle the threats to chil
dren's health;
■ Provide knowledge and exper
tise for policies and action, and
acting as an information clear
ing-house - to create a solid
foundation of scientific knowl
edge;
■ Support communities in creat
ing and maintaining healthy
environments for children -
to facilitate action by countries
and communities to improve
the environments in which their
children live;
■ Monitor and evaluate progress
- to develop guidelines and a
core set of indicators for mea
suring healthy environments
for children.
II - World Health Day 2003
Materials developed by WHO
headquarters
The objectives of World Health
Day 2003 were to:
WHO headquarters prepared a
□ Increase awareness and under
standing of the importance of
healthy environments for chil
dren issues amongst diverse tar
get audiences, especially gov
ernments, the general public
and interest groups;
April 7 - World Health Day marks the day in 1948 in which
WHO came into being. In 2003,
WHD was used as a springboard
to encourage HECA and all other
parties with an interest in improv
ing children's health to bring atten
tion to the grave threats posed to
children by unhealthy environ
ments, and to incite communities
and countries to implement mea
sures to ensure that our children
grow up safe, healthy and happy.
B Move forward healthy environ
ments for children issues higher
up the world's political/development agenda;
IS Enhance understanding of
healthy environments for chil
dren within WHO priorities;
□ Promote awareness of World
Health Day by providing infor
mation to assist celebrations
world-wide;
□ Provide resources to support
local celebrations and media
outreach.
comprehensive set of materials in
English, French and Spanish to
communicate the World Health
Day message. WHO Regional
Offices and country offices used
the materials to adapt them to the
needs of their regions.
□ A WHD logo - to be used in
colour or in black and white,
Target audiences
Shape the Future of Life: Healthy
Environments for Children advoca
cy materials were directed at key
policy and decision-makers both
inside as well as outside the health
sector (e.g. in sectors concerned
and messages around the
world.
□ A WHD slogan - "Shape the
Future of Life" - was featured
on materials in conjunction with
with housing, water and sanitation,
planning, environment, education,
etc. - at the local and national
level), as well as nongovernmental
World Health Day 2003 activi
organizations (NCOs), intergovern
mental organizations (IGOs) and
guages and translated in 24
other languages.
community-based organizations
(CBOs); the private sector; academia/research institutions; and
schools.
6
and to reinforce the branding of
all World Health Day products
ties. It was also made available
in the six official WHO lan
Ul
lb*
•• • - sea • uwi • firtjwrirn ■
Wo<W Health Day ?0O3
I have received the information kits on
World Health Day 2003. I want to thank
you; the materials are great. My little
project was a success, partially because
Ui b.l
.C
of this. I think it's great that an organi
sation like WHO is that easy to make
contact with, and also that you care
■
about little projects. - Email from Event
Coordinator, Nijmegen University - The
■
Netherlands
ority areas; and solutions to
ensuring healthy places for chil
participants.
□ A Healthy Environments for
Children web-feature story on
the headquarters WHO home
page was posted for one month
leading up to WHD.
Numerous posters portraying
□ Backgrounder providing infor
dren.
powerful images of children.
mation to journalists, to incite
and support media coverage of
the HEC issue and of WHD
2003 events around the globe.
A WHD brochure depicting the
key problems in the home,
school and community; the pri
. A tool kit for organizers draw
If
the home, school and commu
nity to be used as both an edu
cational and information tool.
ments for children. Interactive
interfaces enabled event coordi
nators, journalists and the pub
lic to send in event descriptions,
request materials, translate the
WHD 2003 slogan, request
HEC photos, and submit
inquiries. Each Regional Office
had its own Web site promot
ing World Health Day 2003.
ing attention to the unique
opportunity to bring attention
to the dangers children face in
their environment and to galva
nize people into bringing about
positive change.
B A colourful child's measuring
tape and poster depicting posi
tive and negative messages in
A WHD sticker to reinforce the
slogan and logo use by all
WHD event coordinators and
A WHD 2003 Web site was
created on the WHO headquar
ters Internet domain to provide
access to information materials,
with the aim of supporting
World Health Day event coordi
nators around the world, pro
viding resources for the media,
and educating the public on the
importance of healthy environ-
■ A press release disseminated to
over 4000 journalists around the
world, as well as to environmental
journalists' networks and WHO
regional and country offices.
Facts and figures highlighting
key messages on healthy envi
ronments for children.
Two media advisories alerting
journalists worldwide to WHD
and its importance.
■ Two WHD announcements sent
via email to Healthy Environments
for Children listservs targeting
over 2000 organizations, WHO
Regional offices and WHD event
coordinators.
■ Radio page featuring interviews
by key spokespersons and con
sisting of one radio feature and
three radio public service
announcements. The page was
produced to equip radio jour
nalists with information and
materials for coverage of World
Health Day 2003.
An eight-minute video news
release focusing on the risks to
children's health in the home,
school and community was pro
duced. This was distributed
through Television for the
Environment (TVE), the
European Broadcasting Union
(EBU) and Regional Offices.
Three 30-second TV spots
(public service announcements)
highlighting the importance of
the home, school and commu
nity were produced and distrib
uted through TVE to major
broadcasters and through the
EBU.
Promotional materials - WHO
produced a number of promo
WHO Regional Offices and
Country Offices conducted exten
sive promotional, educational, and
outreach activities for World
Health Day 2003. These included
hundreds of press conferences,
seminars, lectures, workshops and
other events on 7 April; the cre
ation of dynamic promotional
materials such as HEC cartoons,
backpacks, clocks, among others;
and numerous activities involving
thousands of children (e.g. poster
competitions, parades).
tional items to reinforce the
WHD 2003 message and slo
gan. These included T-shirts,
flags, tray mats, stickers, ban
ners and badge necklaces.
A children's poster exhibition
featuring 25 drawings on the
six priority areas of Healthy
Environments for Children.
The exhibition took place from
1-10 April at WHO headquar
ters, Geneva.
8
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PARA LOS NW
R
R
Ill - Event highlights
On 7 April, hundreds of different
events all around our globe
marked this year's World Health
Spotlight - event attended by
WHO Director-General, New
Delhi, India
Day and the start of a campaign
by the Healthy Environments for
Children Alliance to promote
healthier environments for children
everywhere. Commitments and
declarations from political leaders
were made. Journalists wrote
about environmental and health
issues. Most importantly, children
described how they saw their envi
ronments through drawing compe
titions, poems, drama, role plays
and statements. The objective was
to mobilize worldwide action to
create healthy homes, healthy
schools and healthy communities
and to shape the future of chil
dren's lives.
On 7 April, an estimated 5 000
school children and their teachers
participated in the WHD 2003
event in New Delhi, in the pres
ence of the Director-General of
WHO, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland;
Chief Minister of New Delhi, Sheila
Dikshit; Cabinet Minister for
Health and Welfare, Government
of India, Sushma Swaraj; and
WHO's Regional Director for
South-East Asia, Dr Uton Muchtar
Rafei.
Dr Brundtland provided the global
perspective on the need for
healthy environments for children,
while Chief Minister Dikshit praised
projects already undertaken by the
children of New Delhi to create
healthy environments. Two initia
tives were specifically highlighted
in the Chief Minister's speech: 1) a
drive by the children of New Delhi
not to use fire crackers during the
Diwali festival in an effort to
reduce unintentional injuries and
accidents and reduce smoke pollu
tion; and 2) an initiative in which
children say no to plastic bags, and
yes to cloth and/or paper bags, in
an effort to reduce environmental
contamination from plastic. Health
Minister Swaraj, in her speech,
delivered practical tips on how chil
dren can live a healthier and safer
life. Two youth representatives also
made speeches at the event.
Educational materials on healthy
environments for children, includ
ing board games on the subject,
presented by the WHO South-East
Asia Regional Office (SEARO).
Subsequently, Dr Brundtland inau
gurated a World Health Day 2003
exhibit, where children had created
artwork depicting solutions to
environmental health challenges.
■
A World Health Day 2003 recep
tion, attended by Indian digni
taries, the UN and diplomatic com
munity, featured the artistic work
of Mr MF Hussain, a famous
Indian painter, and Ms Geetha
Chandra, an Indian classical dancer.
Mr Hussain, in 12 minutes, painted
a mother and child for the occa
sion. Ms Chandra incorporated
healthy environments for children
themes into a dance performance.
This artistic display was accompa
nied by a film, facilitated by
SEARO on Indian rag-pickers, as
well as a demonstration on a water
purification project.
R
R
■
Dr Brundtland was interviewed by
various media, including major
Indian dailies, the BBC, Science
magazine, the Associated Press
and Reuters. The Director-General
briefed media on World Health
Day 2003 and the global need to
create healthy environments for
children. Dr Brundtland also spoke
on polio and SARS. Dr Sattar
Yoosuf, Director-General,
Sustainable Development and
Healthy Environments, WHO
Regional Office for South-East Asia
(SEARO), provided the media with
information on environmental haz
ards to children's health in SouthEast Asia.
In Geneva, Switzerland, WHO
i.
headquarters welcomed over
150 children and students from
five Geneva-area schools, and chil
dren of WHO staff members,
diplomats, representatives of Swiss
and Geneva authorities, and repre
sentatives from WHO, UNEP and
UNICEF for songs, poems, role-
10
in the Swiss Federal Office of Public
play drama performances, video
projections, statements and solemn
reflection on the WHD 2003
theme: "Shape the Future of Life:
Health, highlighted the importance
of sustainable development and
the links with efforts to create
healthy environments for children.
Healthy Environments for
Children".
The Geneva event was kicked off
by children's voices raised in song
interpreting "Les Pouvoirs des
Fleurs" by Laurent Voulzy. This
was followed by an international
welcome by students from local
schools who recited the theme and
slogan for World Health Day in
eight languages.
Dr Brundtland spoke to the
Geneva gathering via a video mes
sage in which she emphasized the
need for our commitment to pro
tecting three of our greatest assets:
health, the environment and chil
dren.
The planned guest of honour at the
Geneva event, Her Royal Highness
Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol, was
unable to attend; however, Her
Excellency Mrs. Laxanchantorn
Ms Sibylle Vermont, Senior
Laophan, Ambassador of Thailand,
gave opening remarks, and made
available the statement from Her
Royal Highness.
Scientific Advisor, Swiss Agency for
the Environment, Forests and
Landscape, spoke about sustain
able development as the way to
shape the future of life, and water
Dignitaries from the local and fed
eral Swiss authorities highlighted
the importance of Healthy
Environments for Children.
as a key element of sustainable
Professor Pierre Francois Unger high
Children shared their visions of
lighted the efforts made in Geneva
healthy environments for children
through poems, role plays and
statements.
to improve the environment for chil
dren. He also pointed out that,
although Geneva may be proud of
its success locally, they never forget
the millions of children who are
denied healthy environments in
which to live, learn and play.
Dr Gaudenz Silberschmidt, Head of
the Division of International Affairs
development. All statements can
be found at www.who.int/world-
health-day/2003.
A lively panel discussion was held
with children role playing as repre
sentatives of the World Health
Organization (WHO), United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
and the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
They joined high-level representa-
IHS PUBUC HEALTH SYMPOSIU"
TDINa OUR CH1DREN FROM ACCIDENT
7 AffflLZOOS. WORLD rCAUHMr
tives from the three organizations,
allowing for dialogue and a sharing
of visions on how environment can
be made healthier for all children
through integrated actions by all
agencies and actors at all levels.
The morning closed with all partici
pants joining in with the song
"Les Pouvoirs des Fleurs" (sung a
second time) and by donning
World Health Day T-shirts in sup
port of Healthy Environments for
Children: Shaping the Future of
Life. Participants watched a live
video feed of Dr Brundtland and
others celebrating World Health
Day in India. Finally, the children in
Geneva were invited to create and
portray their drawing of Healthy
Environments for Children.
Excerpts - World
wealth Day poem
Our world is in a very bad state
But that doesn't mean we can't
change its fate
Burning fuel is killing by the hour
So why not change to solar power?
If that doesn't work we could
all use a bike
And those who don't have one
can go for a hike.
Let’s give it to the children to
Shape the future of life.
The air is polluted
From factories that smoke
From cars that belch
From forests that burn
In homes, in cities
Children are exposed
To pollution from coal
Used for cooking and heating.
The children of the world
Are at dangerous risks
From disease and
Spotlight - events at WHO
Regional Offices
In Cairo, Egypt, WHO Eastern
Mediterranean Region (EMRO)
headquarters, a World Health Day
team was established by the EMRO
From sickness
Children cry
For healthy air
So every person should try
To care.
Regional Director to conduct World
Health Day 2003 activities.
EMRO invited students in all
Member States of the Eastern
Mediterranean Region to par
ticipate in a drawing and paint
ing competition on healthy
environments for children.
A package containing a World
Health Day 2003 kit in English
and Arabic was disseminated to
all countries and some non
governmental organizations in
the region.
On the occasion of World
Health Day 2003, a message by
the EMRO Regional Director
was recorded in Arabic, English,
Farsi and French. This message,
as well as the WHD 2003 mes
sage of Director-General Dr Gro
Harlem Brundtland, was sent to
all Member States in the region.
Due to the prevailing interna
tional situation on 7 April, World
Health Day 2003, WHO/EMRO
postponed regional office events
marking the occasion. Member
States were encouraged to either
carry out or postpone activities
as they deemed appropriate. A
national conference on healthy
environments for children, to be
inaugurated by Her Royal
Highness Queen Rania, was
postponed until further notice.
A WHD 2003 Web site was
established to provide informa
tional and graphic resources for
event coordinators, as well as
highlight the World Health [
2003 activities in the region.
q
In Brazzaville, Republic of
the Congo, the WHO Regional
Office for Africa (AFRO)
IDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIAT'D'
produced a World Health Day
2003 video, which included an
interview with the Regional
Director and highlighted the theme
of healthy environments for chil
dren. The video was produced in
French, English and Portuguese
and sent to all countries of the
region. A showing of the video
was organized for all of the AFRO
community.
A T-shirt promoting World Health
Day 2003 was designed, produced
and disseminated among all coun
proposals and awareness-raising
strategies. At the Mayanga Primary
School, the following healthy envi
ronments for children measures
were implemented: the reconstruc
tion of a latrine, the construction
of a low-cost rainwater harvesting
tank, the installation of hand
washing facilities, and the place
ment of covered pots for drinking
water in each classroom. These
activities served demonstration
purposes and reinforced hygiene
education. Dr Alain Moka, Minister
of Health, and Mrs Rosaline Kama
Niamayona, Minister of Primary
Education, attended a ceremony
inaugurating the new facilities.
gatherings. The play educated
audience members on the conse
quences of consuming contaminat
ed food.
In Copenhagen, Denmark, the
WHO European Regional Office
(EURO) launched preparations for
the Fourth Ministerial Conference
on Environment and Health
(Budapest, 2004), the theme of
which is "The Future for Our
Children". Press conferences were
held in Brussels, Rome, Bonn,
Moscow, Oslo and Stockholm.
Other activities included: an inter
view on BBC World Radio and UN
Radio-New York with the
tries of the region.
WHO/AFRO, in conjunction with
the WHO Republic of the Congo
Country Office and national
authorities, declared four schools in
underserved communities as pilot
"Healthy Schools". Induction activ
ities included carrying out detailed
needs analyses and the preparation
of implementation plans, funding
at many World Health Day 2003
The food safety component of
World Health Day 2003 was
emphasized via the distribution of
copies to schoolchildren of the
publication "Five Keys to Safer
Food and Basic Principles for
Preparation of Safe Food for
Infants and Young Children”. A
play entitled “Food Safety - Your
Choice" was written and acted out
WHO/EURO Regional Director;
the publication of a multi-lingual
press kit, which included a press
release, a fax sheet, and a mono
graph of the WHO/EURO publica
tion “Children's Health and
Environment: A review of evi
dence"; the production of a
Russian version of the WHD
brochure; the publication of the
"Tackling Environment Threats"
A WHD 2003 Web site, a CD of
brochure, in conjunction with
HEC drawings, and a one-minute
video clip on healthy environments
for children were released by the
Regional Office.
European Public Health Alliance; a
World Health Day 2003 briefing
for European Ambassadors in
Copenhagen on 7 April.
In Washington, D.C., the WHO
In Manila, the Philippines, the
Regional Office for the
WHO's Regional Office for the
Americas/Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) headquar
Western Pacific (WPRO) head
quarters created a video with a
message from the WPRO Regional
Director, Dr Shigeru Omi. In addi
tion, WPRO issued a press release,
an Op-ed by the Regional Director,
and a fact sheet for World Health
Day 2003. The press release, the
Op-ed and the fact sheet were
translated into Chinese, French,
Khmer, Mongolian, Vietnamese and
the languages of some Pacific
Island countries.
In New Delhi, India, the WHO
Regional Office for South-East
Asia (SEARO) headquarters pro
duced a Healthy Environments for
Children 2003 calendar and distrib
uted it to all Member States of the
South-East Asia Region.
ing environments for children.
ters organized a series of events
starting with a Kick-off Ceremony
at PAHO HQ was held on 7 April.
Participants included Dr Mirta
Roses Periago, Director, Pan
American Health Organization;
Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary
of Health and Human Services of
the U.S.; Daniel Swartz, Keynote
Speaker, Executive Director,
Children's Environmental Health
Network; Mrs. Ximena Bohorquez,
First Lady of Ecuador; Mr. Paul
Spencer of the Organization of
American States; and Joanne
Rodman, Director of the Office of
Children's Health Protection of the
Environmental Protection Agency.
Brazilian cartoonist Mauricio de
Sousa, creator of Monica, received
an award from PAHO appointing
him Champion of Health in the
Americas for his support and col
laboration for health information
programs, using the widely known
cartoon character "Monica".
Mauricio de Sousa Productions
and the Pan American Health
Organization launched the special
comic book "Monica-Healthy
Environments for Children",
designed to call attention to envi
ronmental risks and dangers in
homes, schools, and playgrounds
The United States Department of
Health and Human Services and
the Environmental Protection
Agency held a children's health fair
in the Great Hall of the Humphrey
Building on 8 April. The focus was
environmental health for children
and diet, nutrition, diabetes, obesi
ty, etc. There were booths, games
and activities for children.
Participants included, among oth
ers: Director of PAHO, Dr Mirta
Roses; U.S. Surgeon General, Dr
Richard Carmona; and dignitaries
from USAID, the State
Department, the Environmental
Protection Agency and others.
13
5
■j
■
R
R
The PAHO programmes for
Communicable Diseases and
Sustainable Development and
Environmental Health, in collabora
tion with the Walter Reed Army
Medical Center and the American
Mosquito Control Association,
organized a children's workshop at
PAHO HQ on 8 April. The objec
tive was to teach young people
about mosquitoes, their life cycles
and habitats, the diseases they
carry, and safe ways to keep them
out of the house.
PAHO's Human Resources pro
gramme launched the Virtual
Public Health Campus. The event
took place at PAHO HQ on 9
April. The programme was Web
cast and the PAHO country offices’
staff and invited guests were able
to participate through video con
ferencing via satellite. Dr Mirta
Roses, two ministers of health, and
two deans of schools of public
health participated.
Health Promotion and Health
Education in the School Setting
hosted a debate on integrated
school health programmes and the
importance of the HealthPromoting School Regional
Initiative. A panel of students,
teachers, parents and school
administrators discussed their con
cepts of integrated school health
programmes during this event at
PAHO HQ on 11 April.
The 7th Annual Walk for Health
was open to all PAHO staff, their
families, friends, neighbours and
anyone interested in celebrating
World Health Day 2003 on 7 April.
The walk began at Centennial
Plaza.
The Organization of American
States (OAS) held a special confer
ence on "Children, Health, and the
Environment". Speakers at the
conference included: Dr Mirta
Roses, Director of PAHO; Lie.
Alejandro Bonasso, Director of the
Inter-American Children's Institute;
of the Unit for Sustainable
Development and Environment
(USDE) at the OAS.
school activities, poems, drawing
competitions and much more,
were noted. Overall, more than
300 events from over 100 coun
Spotlight around the world
to the World Health Day 2003
Hundreds of events around the
world, ranging from pledges of
high-level political commitment
to public awareness campaigns,
Web site.
and Dr Richard Meganck, Director
tries have been uploaded or linked
some examples of
who activities:
The examples listed on the pages
that follow indicate no preference
by WHO. They are based on first
event descriptions and the feedback
forms. WHO takes no responsibility
for incomplete or erroneous infor
mation. All events or references to
activities are not endorsed by WHO.
AFRO
South Africa:
On 8 April 2003, the settlement of
Bloekombos in Cape Town became
In partnership with organizations
such as the Medical Research
Council and the WHO country
the focus of continued World
office, the South African National
attention in particular to threats to
children's safety in the home envi
ronment, environmental lead expo
sure, and the respiratory conse
quences of exposure to indoor air
pollution amongst peri-urban
wood- and kerosene-using com
munities. Hon. Dr TshabalalaMsimang announced a pending
national campaign to raise aware
ness of the risks of lead exposure
amongst children. Political leaders
and dignitaries, including members
of Cape Town's Junior Council,
read and signed the Pledge of
Commitment to Healthy
Environments for Children in South
Department of Health organized
two key events to mark the World
Health Day 2003. The first of the
two national events was held on
7 April in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape.
The focus was on rural environ
mental concerns, such as poor
access to water and sanitation,
and exposure to indoor air pollu
tion. The South African Minister
of Health, Hon. Dr Manto
Tshabalala-Msimang, delivered the
keynote address, and was accom
panied by numerous political lead
ers and dignitaries, including:
Deputy Minister of Health, Deputy
Minister of Provincial and Local
Government, Deputy Minister of
Housing, Professor Richard
Feacham of the Global Fund, and
Dr Welile Shasha of the WHO
South African Office.
activities. These included: a press
conference, a journalists' seminar,
dissemination of materials and a
Health Day activities in South
Africa. The Minister of Health drew
Africa.
main event at Chwaka Village,
Central District in South Unguja.
Tanzania:
The Health Education Unit, School
Health Programme, of the Ministry
of Health (Tanzania Mainland)
planned World Health Day 2003
activities in synergy with the Ministry
of Education, WHO, UNICEF, Plan
International, Deutsche Gesellschaft
fur Technische Zusammenarbeit
(GTZ), and The Right to Play Canada (Olympic Aid). The main
activity was an event at the Malulu
Stadium of the Lindi region, featur
ing, as Guest of Honour, Hon. Dr Ali
Mohamed Shein (Vice President of
the United Republic of Tanzania).
The Ministry of Health (Zanzibar),
in collaboration with the ministries
of education, communication, and
community development, WHO
and the NGO Cluster, planned a
week of World Health Day 2003
AMRO/PAHO
Chile:
“Esos son los planes que estamos
haciendo para la limpieza del
medio ambiente. (...) Si somos
capaces de aprobar la reforma de
salud, no me cabe duda que estos
nihos van a tener un futuro
mejor."
President Ricardo Lagos, Chile
"These are our plans for cleaning
up our environment. (...) If we are
capable of adopting the health
reform, then there is no doubt in
my mind that these (our) children
will have a better future. "
President Ricardo Lago, Chile
dren from schools and environ
mental clubs were present. On this
occasion, the authorities of the
participating institutions and the
children, in a symbolic act, signed
a commitment to the Healthy
Environments for Children Alliance.
In the presence of President
Ricardo Lagos, World Health Day
2003 was commemorated at the
Cerro Santa Lucia in Santiago,
Chile. Dr Pedro Garcia (Minister of
Health), Dr Christian Darras
(PAHO/AMRO), Pedro Aguirre
Cerda (Mayor of Santiago), Juan
Saavedra (Red Municipal de
Atencion Primaria Ambiental), rep
resentatives from CONAMA,
SENAME, UNICEF, UNESCO, the
Public Health School of the
University of Chile, and 300 chil
Nicaragua:
The PAHO office in Nicaragua, in
collaboration with UNICEF; the
Ministry of Health; the Ministry of
Education, Culture, and Sports; the
Municipality of Managua; the
Ministry of Environment and
Natural Resources, and others, cel
ebrated healthy environments for
children through various activities
planned for the week of 28 March
- 7 April. These included: a forum
on the HEC theme, consisting of
speeches and a call for a national
alliance to guarantee healthy envi
ronments for children; a walk-athon, in which 2000 people partici
pated, including dignitaries from
the ministries and municipal gov
ernment; a press conference; a
school fair for children, which
included an exhibition by children
on how they envision their ideal
environment and future. Dr Jose
Antonio Alvarado, Minister of
Health, was involved in the com
memoration of World Health Day
2003 in Nicaragua.
EMRO
Afghanistan:
President Hamid Karzai delivered a
speech at the Ministry of Health in
Kabul, on the occasion of World
Health Day 2003.
Jordan:
A national committee was estab
lished to prepare and carry out
WHD 2003 activities, which
included: a colloquium on the
WHD theme; a song for children;
projects with local communities to
develop healthy environment for
children activities; a large radio, TV,
and newspaper media campaign;
participation in the art competition
organized by WHO; a TV pro
gramme in which His Excellency
Minister of Health delivered the
“Message of Jordan on World
Health Day 2003", followed by a
documentary film; production of
two TV information programmes
for mothers and children on
healthy environments.
Saudi Arabia:
Hosted by the Ministry of Health General Directorate of Preventive
Health, a national seminar brought
together representatives of profes
sional, national and international
organizations (WHO, FAO, King
Abdul-Aziz City for Science and
Technology, Saudi Paediatric
Association); community workers;
policy-makers; and local and
national authorities dealing with
health, environment, and educa
tion. The purpose of the seminar
was to direct efforts to celebrate
WHD 2003 and to support the
global Healthy Environments for
Children Alliance.
EURO
Turkey:
Germany:
The Ministry of Health, Turkey,
implemented the following activities
At an event hosted by the Federal
Association for Health in Bonn,
speeches were given by the
Minister of Health, a representative
of the Ministry of Environmental
Protection, and other experts. Two
workshops were held for experts
on the following themes: the influ
ence of environmental factors on
child health and practical imple
mentation; international and interministerial collaboration on envi
ronment and health issues.
in commemoration of World Health
Day 2003: controls of the safety of
water and food in schools; teaching
of traffic safety rules to students by
traffic officials; slide shows, confer
ences, and HEC seminars in primary
schools of the Social Services
Provincial Directorates; poster, slo
gan, poem, essay-writing, and
speech competitions on healthy
environments for children; recom
mended incorporation of HEC
issues into curriculum in schools on
7 April; tree planting with youth to
create "Healthy Forests"; visitation
of handicapped youth in their
homes; public announcements and
training; and media outreach.
SEARO
India:
More than 65 World Health Day
2003 events were registered on
the Headquarter's Web site from
event coordinators in India, in
addition to the high-level event
attended by the WHO DirectorGeneral. The following types of
organizations/entities coordinated
events; ministries, district or munic
ipal governments, medical colleges
and universities, research centres,
professional associations, NGOs,
armed forces, hospitals and clinics,
community centres, elementary
and secondary schools, private sec
tor entities, ladies social clubs, and
railway stations, among others.
Sri Lanka:
A seminar for media personnel rep
resenting both print and electronic
media was held on 20 March 2003
to make them aware of the theme
"Healthy Environments for
Children - Shape their Future".
The seminar was inaugurated by
the Honourable Minister of Health,
Nutrition & Welfare, and 62 media
personnel participated.
WPRO
Mongolia:
The month of April was dedicated
to healthy environments for chil
dren. This initiative was spearhead
ed by the Ministry of Health
(MOH). Minister for Health,
Professor P. Nymadawa, presented
tobacco-free legislation in
Parliament to raise awareness
among law makers on this public
health priority. In a televised
broadcast on 7 April, the Prime
Minister of Mongolia and repre
sentatives of WHO and UNICEF
presented the WHD 2003 theme.
The Ministry of Health, with the
support of WHO, translated, print
ed and distributed WHD 2003
materials and created billboards
with the WHD 2003 logo.
The Ministry of Health, in collabo
In collaboration with the media,
the following activities took place:
a press conference; radio transmis
sion on HEC with leading national
specialists; the publication of a
series of articles, as well as the
WHD 2003 messages from Mr Kofi
Annan, Dr Brundtland and Dr Omi
in national newspapers; broadcast
ing of a television spot for two
weeks featuring a well-known
national singer; and an open inter
view with the public on healthy
environments for children.
Niue Island:
World Health Day 2003 was cele
brated on Niue Island with a
Healthy Environments for Children
March from the town centre to the
National Medical Centre, Lord
Liverpool Hospital. Invitations were
distributed to all media, members
of parliament, government depart
ments, NGOs, the New Zealand
High Commission, and staff and
ration with the City Education
Agency, organized a school com
petition aimed at creating healthy
environments in the schools.
students from local schools.
Announcements were also broad
cast on radio, inviting the general
public to the march. The Health
Department, Health Promotion
Unit, produced pamphlets empha
sizing the HEC message, as well as
signs and banners to accompany
the supporters that attended the
WHD 2003 march. As people
marched, rubbish was collected
and songs were sung. On arrival at
the hospital, speeches were deliv
ered by Dr Harry Paka, Director of
Health; Honourable Sandra Lee,
New Zealand High Commissioner;
and Honourable Fisa Pihigia,
Minister of Health.
A listing of all World Health Day
2003 events can be found at
www.who.int/world-health-day/2003.
IV - Media Outreach
Why advocacy?
Media impact
The global effect that unhealthy
environments have on children is
As a result, hundreds of brochures
and articles were produced and
still not widely appreciated.
disseminated, and dozens of pro
Therefore, HECA is making advo
motional videos, contests, seminars
were produced and aired through
national and local TV channels.
cacy on behalf of children and
their environment a priority for the
burgeoning Alliance. HECA needs
to get the word out to decision
At least 80 media outlets filed sto
makers, thought leaders, commu
ries on World Health Day including
globally-known organizations such
nity associations, children them
selves, and to a wide range of
other organizations that unhealthy
environments are dangerous to our
children and that, equally, we have
the means - often low-cost and
easy to implement - to prevent a
large portion of the environmental
risks that threaten our children.
Often, the media are the most
important and effective tool in
communicating these messages
and WHO used all the channels at
its disposal to communicate WHD
and its importance to print and
broadcast media.
as the BBC, Africa News, El Pais,
Agence France Presse (AFP),
Deutsche Presse Agentur, Gulf
News, The Hindu, The Financial
Times, Associated Press, Reuters,
Xinhua General News Agency and
Voice of America (VOA).
WHO also received indications
from around the world that WHD
gained substantial coverage in local
Unir esforcos em prol dos
"homens de amanha"
organized strong and visible WHD
events. Social mobilization and
media coverage combined to
spread the word about healthy
environments for children.
A summary of media coverage can
be found at www.who.int/worldhealth-day/2003.
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El 40% de las patologias ambientale:
afecta a los menores de cinco anos
and national media, and although
it was not possible for WHO head
quarters to collect all media cover
age which occurred, it appeared
that media pick-up was particularly
good in those countries that had
19
V - Shaping the future for healthy environments
for children - supportive policy environments
bO
The momentum generated by
World Health Day 2003 will con
tinue to grow and be built upon
through many other events and
activities in all regions of the world
which focus on issues around
healthy environments for children.
The spotlight will be on policy in
the health sector in May 2003
when the ministerial round table
segment of the 56th World Health
Assembly (19-28 May 2003) is
devoted to “Healthy Environments
for Children". First introduced at
the 52nd World Health Assembly,
ministerial round tables serve to
enhance the involvement of minis
ters and heads of delegations in
policy debate.
Ministers of health are invited to
use the round table discussions to
make output-oriented recommen
dations for policy and action in
ensuring healthy environments for
children. Ministers and heads of
delegation will share best practices
in healthy environments for chil
dren, identify major constraints
and obstacles to achieving success/implementation, examine the
role of the health sector and other
sectors in addressing children's
environmental health issues, as
well as the role of national versus
local government, share experi
ences of successful advocacy and
communications approaches in cre
ating healthy environments for
children, and examine the role that
WHO has to play in facilitating
action to ensure healthy environ
ments for children.
It is expected that these ministerial
round tables will enhance further
the advocacy efforts for healthy
environments for children, as well
as both policy measures and action
strategies to address environmental
risks to children's health at region
al, national and global levels.
Another major milestone in policy
to support healthy environments
for children is the Fourth
Ministerial Conference on
Environment and Health, which
will bring ministers of environment
from across Europe together in
Budapest, Hungary, from 23-28
June 2004. The theme is "The
Future of Our Children”. The
Children's Environment and Health
Action plan for Europe (CEHAPE) is
being developed to put children's
health at the top of the political
agenda for environment and
health.
These, and many other events and
activities, in all sectors and at glob
al, regional, national and local lev
els will be the building blocks that
will shape the future and ensure
healthy environments for all chil
dren everywhere.
VI - List of countries that registered WHD events
1. Afghanistan
29. Djibouti
57. Mexico
85. Slovakia
2. Albania
30. Dominican Republic
58. Mongolia
86. Slovenia
3. Algeria
31. Ecuador
59. Morocco
87. Solomon Islands
4. Argentina
32. Egypt
60. Myanmar
88. South Africa
5. Armenia
33. El Salvador
61. Namibia
89. Spain
6. Aruba (The Netherlands)
34. Estonia
62. Nepal
90. Sri Lanka
7. Bangladesh
35. Fiji
63. Netherlands Antilles
91. Surinam
8. Belgium
36. France
64. New Zealand
92. Switzerland
9. Belize
37. Gabon
65. Nicaragua
93. Thailand
10. Benin
38. Georgia
66. Niger
11. Bhutan
39. Germany
67. Nigeria
94. The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia
12. Bosnia and Herzegovina
40. Greece
68. Niue
13. Brazil
41. Hungary
69. Norway
14. Cambodia
42. India
70. Pakistan
15. Cameroon
43. Indonesia
71. Palau
16. Canada
44. Iran (Islamic Republic of)
72. Panama
17. Cape Verde
45. Jamaica
73. Papua New Guinea
18. Central African Republic
46. Jordan
74. Peru
19. Chad
47. Kyrgyztan
75. Philippines
20. Chile
48. Ireland
76. Poland
21. China
49. Italy
77. Portugal
22. Colombia
50. Lao People's Democratic Republic
78. Qatar
23. Cook Island
51. Latvia
79. Republic of Moldova
24. Costa Rica
52. Lebanon
80. Romania
53. Lithuania
81. Russian Federation
26. Czech Republic
54. Madagascar
82. Samoa
27. Democratic People's Republic of Korea
55. Malaysia
83. Saudi Arabia
Asia Region is to be confirmed at the 56th
84. Serbia and Montenegro
General World Health Assembly.
25. Croatia
28. Democratic Republic of Congo
56. Mauritius
95. Timor Leste" *
96. Tonga
97. Tunisia
98. Turkey
99. United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
100. United Republic of Tanzania
101. United States of America
102. Uzbekistan
103. Venezuela
104. Vanuatu
105. Viet Nam
• Events registered on the WHD HQ Web site
as of 5 May 2003.
■ • Membership of Timor Leste in the South-East
More than 300 events in over 100 countries marked World Health Day 2003. Events involved tens of
thousands of children, their parents and teachers, their medical professionals and community leaders,
their regional governments and national ministries. Through media coverage, the message that children
are the centre of sustainable development, and that their health needs to be protected from
environmental hazards, spread to millions more.
"Every year, over 5 million children ages 0 to 14 die from diseases directly related to their environments.
They die of diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses, malaria and other vector-borne diseases, injuries, and other
environmental threats in and around their homes. The deaths and overall ill-health can be prevented.
We know what to do. We have developed strategies to combat these environmental risks to children's
health. They need to be implemented on a global and national scale, and at the household and
community level."
Excerpts from the speech of the Director-General of the World Health Organization,
Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, on 7 April (World Health Day 2003)
"Their future is in your hands.
World Health Day 2003 Event Coordinator
Position: 854 (9 views)