Shape the Future of Life · Healthy Environments for Children
 
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Creating Healthy Places for Children - Ensuring Healthy Places
The range of environmental risks confronting children—often at the same time and in the same place—demands a concerted, coordinated approach. Tackling these risks requires focusing on the places where children live, and the approach must involve different government ministries, including health, housing, energy, and water and planning. Involvement of the community is also critical; parents, teachers, health and social workers must work together in a truly integrated, multisectoral partnership. The health sector and other sectors can work to solve health problems close to their source, starting with small projects to reach all children at risk of environmental threats. Cost-effective and culturally appropriate methods can be used to improve the quality of children's homes, schools and community environment. Working on the issues of children and the environment can provide a good opportunity to reach a wide range of people with education and information about improving the environment and protecting their children's health. INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, ECUADOR
Following a comprehensive information and educational strategy, community members played a key role in establishing a sanitary landfill. Through a door-to-door campaign, municipal personnel delivered green and black waste bins, informational pamphlets and collection schedules to each household. Some 80 percent of the city's households started to separate waste at the source. A system of fines and higher fees for noncompliance was introduced to promote separation of household waste. Biodegradable waste was used to produce compost in a worm composting plant for later sale. All the recyclable materials were processed and sold, while special arrangements were made for safe disposal of toxic and infectious hospital waste. The program covered more than 80 percent of the municipality, with a participation rate of 90 percent of the population. Overall it resulted in the improvement of the quality of life of Loja residents and changes in their behavior and attitude towards their environment. The city’s institutional capacity was strengthened as programs were put in place, and city officials shared their experiences with other municipalities. COUNTRIES HAVE MOBILIZED EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS
WHY THE HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN ALLIANCE? Many countries, UN agencies and NGOs have expressed a strong need to establish a broad-based alliance that draws on the unique and complementary strengths of many different parties. The Healthy Environments for Children Alliance envisions a movement involving various sectors to implement effective programs and policies. Sharing information, expertise and efforts will increase the effectiveness of interventions, expand the reach of limited resources, and stimulate governments and others to act in a collective, coherent and synergistic way. Many cost-effective solutions already exist. It is crucial to build on past and ongoing work, and to have high-level commitment for a new and innovative approach to children's environmental health. By acting together on multiple risks, we can develop cross-cutting, integrated solutions for addressing children's health issues and environmental risk factors. Global direction, advocacy and resource mobilization are essential to make the alliance work effectively. National movements are also vital for creating and ensuring safe and healthy environments for children. |
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The city of Loja, Ecuador, faced a major sanitation problem. There was no coordination in household waste collection, and around the city, refuse was being discarded in dispersed dumping grounds near human dwellings, leading to outbreaks of infections and contagious diseases. As part of the “Action Plan for Loja - 21st Century,” the City of Loja introduced the “Integrated Solid Waste Management Program” in consultation with members of the public and other stakeholders. The plan focused on supporting the poor and marginalized populations, and environmental conservation, through the use of new technologies.
There is clear evidence that environment-related disease can be controlled even in the world's poorest countries. Worldwide, governments and communities have mobilized effective strategies that are being implemented in various settings. The Healthy Environments for Children Alliance will work with these strategies, reinforcing and building on their efficacy. For example, millions of lives can be saved with the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy, aimed at preventing and treating pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, measles, and worm infections. IMCI also promotes key family practices that include hand washing and safe human waste disposal, as well as ongoing research about the best ways to reduce indoor air pollution and its harmful effects on children's health. IMCI and infant and young child feeding strategies promote exclusive breastfeeding, the most powerful and effective means of reducing the incidence and severity of childhood diarrhea. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control addresses second-hand tobacco smoke and its harmful effects on children.