Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
2 September 2008
Libreville — Health and environment ministers in Africa have resolved to build a strategic health and environment alliance to reduce environmental threats to human health and well-being.
Following a meeting in Gabon, the ministers signed and adopted the Libreville Declaration which commits governments to take the required measures to stimulate the necessary policy, institutional and investment changes that should be effected to optimize synergies between health, environment and other relevant sectors.
"The signing of this landmark declaration," said Dr Luis G. Sambo, Regional Director of WHO Africa Regional Office," is the first step towards saving the lives of millions of people from the harmful effects of changes in the environment. We will work together to promote strategic alliances between health and environment. I am delighted that we have managed to secure political commitment to catalyze institutional changes needed to improve the health and well being of communities in the region."
After deliberations on a range of issues, delegates were convinced that the root causes of global environmental degradation are embedded in social and economic problems such as pervasive poverty, unsustainable production and consumption patterns, inequity of distribution of wealth and the debt burden.
These result in malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid, asthma, bronchitis, heart diseases among many others that are taking their toll on millions of people living in the region.
Delegates highlighted the need to address health, environment and economic development issues in an interrelated manner to generate new synergies in poverty reduction and social equity. Ministers expressed their willingness to actively seek partnerships with civil society, including the private sector, and to seek their expertise in effecting change to improve environmental conditions in Africa.
The declaration urges member states among other things to update their national, sub-regional and regional frameworks in order to address more effectively the inter-linkages between health and environment though integration of these links in national policies.
The states should as well ensure integration of the agreed objectives in the areas of health and environment in national poverty reduction strategies.
Other areas of action include implementation of priority inter-sectoral programmes at all levels in health and environment and building national and regional capacities to address the linkages in the two areas.
"The Libreville declaration is a milestone for Africa. Nowhere is the human health impact of environmental threats more urgent," said Dr Maria Neira, WHO's Director for Department of Public Health and Environment. "The challenge now is to ensure Africa moves onto the global environmental health agenda."
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