Learning unit 1
Introduction to health, environment and sustainable development
Outcomes
Outcomes are as indicated on page 1 of your study guide
Introduction
In 2008, African ministers responsible for health reaffirmed their commitments to
implement all declarations that had a bearing on health and the environment in a
meeting held at Libreville, which became known as the Libreville declaration on health
and the environment in Africa. Concerns of the Ministers were the increasing risk
between the well-being of human race and the environment and included the following:
Over 23% of deaths of in Africa, estimated at more than 2.4 million each year,
were attributable to environmental factors that could be avoided, which impact
negatively on vulnerable groups and the poor.
60% of the vital ecosystem services which maintain the quality of air is degraded
and subjected to severe pressure.
The African continent increasingly affected by natural disasters due to climate
change.
Definition of Environmental health
The definition of Environmental health is defined in Frunkim (2010: xxxl) as follows:
Environmental health is the discipline that focuses on the interrelationships between
people and their environment, promotes human health and wellbeing and fosters a safe
and health full environment; this is according to National Center for environmental
Health, cited in DHHS, 1998
Please check other definitions on the same page
1
Introduction to health, environment and sustainable development
Outcomes
Outcomes are as indicated on page 1 of your study guide
Introduction
In 2008, African ministers responsible for health reaffirmed their commitments to
implement all declarations that had a bearing on health and the environment in a
meeting held at Libreville, which became known as the Libreville declaration on health
and the environment in Africa. Concerns of the Ministers were the increasing risk
between the well-being of human race and the environment and included the following:
Over 23% of deaths of in Africa, estimated at more than 2.4 million each year,
were attributable to environmental factors that could be avoided, which impact
negatively on vulnerable groups and the poor.
60% of the vital ecosystem services which maintain the quality of air is degraded
and subjected to severe pressure.
The African continent increasingly affected by natural disasters due to climate
change.
Definition of Environmental health
The definition of Environmental health is defined in Frunkim (2010: xxxl) as follows:
Environmental health is the discipline that focuses on the interrelationships between
people and their environment, promotes human health and wellbeing and fosters a safe
and health full environment; this is according to National Center for environmental
Health, cited in DHHS, 1998
Please check other definitions on the same page
1
