World Environmental Health Day is annually observed on September 26 to raise awareness about the environmental health concerns and to highlight the important work of environmental health around the world. The Theme for 2020 is “Environmental Health, a key public health intervention in disease pandemic prevention”.
Background
i.The day was launched by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) council at its meeting in Indonesia on September 26, 2011.
ii.The event was observed in Africa and Europe in 2012 and in 2013 was supported by Canadian, British, American, Australian and Asian activists.
Relation b/w global deaths and environment
As per the World Health Organization(WHO)-2020, 24% of global deaths are linked to the environment, which is roughly 13.7 million deaths per year.
Role of EIP in Environmental Health:
i.Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) are important to implement disease preventive measures.
ii.They play an important role since the initial response to the outbreak of diseases pandemics all around the world.
iii.They also play a role in the following namely, disaster preparedness and response, investigate outbreaks of infectious diseases and preventing its further spread.
What is Environmental health?
Environmental health is a branch of public health that deals with all aspects of the natural and built environment. Maintaining a healthy environment is central to increasing quality of life and years of healthy life.
Recent infectious diseases outbreaks around the world
According to WHO, some most recent infectious diseases outbreaks around the world including the ongoing SARS-CoV-2(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) now called COVID-19 are as follows:
Ebola- 2013/2014; Cholera- 2010/2013; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)- 2012; HINI flu pandemic- 2009; Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)- 2003; Meningitis- 1996/1997.
Recent Related News:
i.World Environment Day 2020: June 5
ii.World Health Day 2020: April 7
About International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH):
It works to spread knowledge on environmental health and to promote co-operation between countries where environmental health issues are transboundary.
Headquarters-London, United Kingdom
President– Dr Selva Mudaly
