…as the world commemorates World Health Day
Melinda Kusemachibi
Environmental related health problems are becoming a major cause of health problems, with air pollution being the major contaminator of the environment.
It is reported that globally 13 million people die each year due to environmentally related diseases with climate change problems being the major.
Lack of proper disposal facilities of drugs at hospitals, with some being burnt when they are not supposed to lead to health hazards as the smoke produced is very dangerous to inhale.
With local authorities’ inefficiency in collecting waste, people are now burning the waste in their homes which causes the production of hazardous chemicals.
Social Economic Action Director Tendai Mafuka said that environment related health problems are not paid much attention to.
“Environmental related health problems are usually classified under Neglected Tropical Diseases since they are not paid much attention to. These include illegal dumping, air pollution, land pollution, environmental degradation equated to dire service delivery,” said Mafuka.
She also said that human beings create problems with the environment themselves.
“Usually as human beings, we create chaos with the environment for ourselves due to mismanagement and ignorance. Therefore, it is very important to employ Nature Based Solutions by working with nature than against it for example engineering with nature proper urbanization planning, using the 7Rs of waste management, capacity building, environmental sustainability, utility of sewage based surveillance, doing away with neglected Tropical Diseases. Overall the common subject is sanitation versus population,” added Mafuka
A survey commissioned by Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to monitor the quality of water in the country’s water bodies has concluded that due to unrestrained dumping of untreated sewage, pollution levels in some major water bodies have reached alarming levels.
It has been established that Umguza River, Lake Manyame, Lake Chivero and Sebakwe dam, have all been heavily polluted, a development that has adversely affected potable water quality in some urban centers.
EMA Masvingo Environmental Education and Publicity Officer Brian Makani highlighted that environmental related issues are among the major causes of health problems worldwide.
“It is true that environmental related issues are among the major causes of health problems worldwide as highlighted by a World Health Organization (WHO) report. This is so because environmental issues such as air pollution are reported to be among the causes of many skin and respiratory disorders in human beings. It also causes heart diseases too. Air pollution causes asthma, bronchitis, and many other diseases.
“Moreover, it increases the rate of aging of lungs, decreases lungs function and damages cells in the respiratory system. So there is need for people to desist from activities which pollute the air, for instance improper disposal and burning of waste, avoiding veld fires and for industries to use catalytic convertors and green technology like solar and wind energy to curb air pollution,” said Makani.
He also said that chemicals such as mercury are the main causes of environment damaging issues and urged communities to move away from accidental toxic substances.
“Hazardous chemicals are mainly corrosive, explosive, flammable, toxic and irritant. The exposure of humans to hazardous chemicals and substances such as mercury, sulphuric acid, cyanide, nitrous oxide, sulphur and sodium arsenate among others can be detrimental to health as they can cause skin corrosion or irritation, serious eye damage, cancer, affect reproductive health, trigger breathing problems and even induce genetic mutation.
“As such, EMA urges communities to move away from accidental hazardous substances spillage sites, report all spillages immediately to EMA and ZRP. People should never move close to an accidental spillage site as the substance may explode. People should never try to taste, handle or collect the substance as it may be corrosive or carcinogenic,” added Makani.
Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe Executive Director Shamiso Mupara said anthropogenic activities continue to pose a negative impact on the natural environment.
“The natural environment is a source of livelihood or life for all of us. Anthropogenic activities continue to impact negatively on the natural environment, thereby harming wildlife and humans. Cases of illegal gold mining and use of mercury to purify gold in rivers cause water pollution and thus a health risk to all water users.
“Air pollution from industries and veld fires is increasing the incidence of respiratory diseases, global warming has also seen an increase in vector diseases such as malaria. Water pollution from agriculture also has seen communities being forced to drink or use chemical laden water for domestic use posing a health risk to families especially young children,” said Mupara.
In the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet, and increasing diseases like cancer, asthma and heart disease, World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that it will focus global attention this World Health Day 2022 with the theme of this year’s campaign is Our planet, our health, which aims to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies more focused on well-being.
Threats to public health are compounded by weak governance practices and potential inequities in health as well as by limited leadership, expertise, and resources in the health sector.
