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Luz Maritza Tennassee, PhD, Risk Assessment and Management Unit, Area of Sustainable Environment and Environmental Health, Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office of the World Health Organization, 525 23rd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, (202) 974-3307, tennassm@paho.org
At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, the World Health Organization (WHO) harnessed both the interest and energy of many nations to improve children's environmental health. Motivated Member States, United Nations agencies, and NGOs joined forces to create a “mass movement for children's environmental health”, stating that millions of children stood to benefit from the reduction of child deaths and disability caused by environmental degradation. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is working with Member States, national and international agencies, and experts throughout the world to improve environmental conditions so that children live happier and healthier lives and become productive members of our society. American nations have issued many calls to action to improve children's environmental health; PAHO has both supported these and responded by developing “Healthy Environments: Healthy Children: A Movement to Achieve Healthy Environments for Children of the Americas.” This strategy draws on several programs, such as the integrated management of childhood illness, child and adolescent health, and environmental health. It aims to engage at local, national and regional levels, inciting movement throughout the hemisphere to improve the environments in which children live, grow, learn, play and work. It centers on four goals: to improve public awareness, advocate for children, recommend policy and programs and provide solid bases for decision-making.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.