Childhood-Il lnesses

and their factors in developing countries

Lena Wilkes

Topics

• Introduction/Facts• Factors in Detail :

Water & SanitationAir PollutionUrbanizationMalnutrition

• Solutions• World Health Organization

Introduction/Facts

• Health, nutrit ion & development are al l c losely connected

• 1/3 of under–fives in developing countries less developed

• More than 3 Mill ion die each year from environment-related causes

Factors in Detai l

• Water and sanitation• Air pol lution• Urbanization• Malnutrit ion

Water and sanitation

• Aedes mosquitos in water col lect ions transmit the mortal virus

• Children are the main victims• Dangerous chemicals also occur natural ly in

groundwater ( l ike f luoride) → serious health effects

Air Pol lution• Major environment-related threat• Outdoor & indoor• Second-hand tobacco & certain outdoor

pollutants→Infections• Biomass fuel→

global burden of disease• OUTDOOR: combustion of fossi l fuels in cit ies• INDOOR: cooking and heating→smoke

Urbanization

• Result of population migration from rural areas

• 2007 world‘s population in urban areas was higher than 50%

• 800,000 annual deaths from urban air pol lution, 1,2 Mill . From road-traffic accidents, 1,9 Mill . From physical inactivity & 1,5 Mill . From indoor air pol lution

Malnutrit ion

• Inadequate intake of protein, energy, vitamins & water

• Complex from food we eat, state of health & environment

• WHO: 27% of chi ldren younger than 5 years are underweight

Solutions

• Simple f i ltration and disinfection of water• Improved stoves reduce exposures to toxic

chemicals• Education• Interaction between energy pol ic ies , c l imate

change and health

World Health Organization

• Since 1948, agency of the United Nations• Promotes the general health of people al l

around the world• Many programmes on water & sanitation,

air polution, chemical safety, ultraviolet radiation, nutrition & food safety

"We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the foundation of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made and his senses are being developed. To him we cannot answer "Tomorrow". His name is "Today"." Gabriela Mistral, 1948

Thank you!

Any Questions?