The state of the environment that one lives in, cannot be understated. Environmental health-related risks are a major concern across Africa, leading to diverse problems such as air pollution, water pollution, oil spillage, deforestation, desertification, erosion, and flooding caused mostly by human activities (ScienceDirect).
The World Health Report indicated that globally, 23 percent of death occurrences and 26 percent of children deaths ranging up to 4 million children under five every year, are due to environmental factors. In addition, 85 out of 102 categories of diseases and injuries are influenced by environmental factors. This shows our environment has a huge impact on our well-being and health.
Observed annually, World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage collective action towards a healthier planet.
This year, the theme for World Environment Day is “Beat Plastic Pollution”. Plastic waste is a major environmental problem that affects ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Plastic waste can take hundreds of years to decompose, and it often ends up in the ocean. Reaching the ocean, it harms marine life and pollutes the water. Plastic waste is one of the factors that has a negative impact on our environment. It is important for us to take action to reduce our plastic consumption, and other environment-harming actions to take care of our health and well-being.
A clean environment is essential for good health because it helps prevent the spread of germs and diseases and can have a positive impact on our well-being. The Quality Assurance/Improvement Team Lead, Avon Medical, Evangeline Enyirie, commented: “Our environment is our home and if not taken care of, can have a negative impact on our health, leading to various sicknesses. Keeping the environment clean and safe is a collective effort from all of us and this starts with little things such as cleaning our drains, recycling right, and cleaning our surroundings.”
It is essential that we work together to manage our environment, as a safer and better environment leads to a better and healthier life.
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