More than 5,500 children die each day from contaminated food and water. Environmental factors cause nearly one-third of the world’s diseases and children under five years of age are the most affected, counting for over 40 %, although they constitute only 10% of the total human population.
These are some of the findings in a newly released 140 page report: Children in the New Millennium: Environmental Impact on Health, jointly produced by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
"I am convinced that we need to elevate children's environmental health issues on the international agenda, both through the General Assembly's special session on children and then the World Summit on Sustainable Development," said Klaus Töpfer, the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme. "We should recognize that realizing children's rights and managing environmental challenges are mutually reinforcing goals. We hope that the publication will inspire everyone who cares about children to take decisive action that will improve both their health and the environment."
The report points out that malnutrition – affecting 150 million children - is a major contributing factor, as is diarrhoea, an attendant illness. The organisms that cause diarrhoea weaken children’s intestines, preventing digestion and absorption of nutrients, further compounding malnutrition. This naturally creates a greater vulnerability to illness.
These are some of the findings in a newly released 140 page report: Children in the New Millennium: Environmental Impact on Health, jointly produced by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
"I am convinced that we need to elevate children's environmental health issues on the international agenda, both through the General Assembly's special session on children and then the World Summit on Sustainable Development," said Klaus Töpfer, the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme. "We should recognize that realizing children's rights and managing environmental challenges are mutually reinforcing goals. We hope that the publication will inspire everyone who cares about children to take decisive action that will improve both their health and the environment."
The report points out that malnutrition – affecting 150 million children - is a major contributing factor, as is diarrhoea, an attendant illness. The organisms that cause diarrhoea weaken children’s intestines, preventing digestion and absorption of nutrients, further compounding malnutrition. This naturally creates a greater vulnerability to illness.