CMH1503 learning unit 1a (summary)

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




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