My WEDC

Resource details

Child survival and environmental health: Regional annex for East Africa [Quality Assurance: Caroline Hunt]

Author(s): Rukunga, Gerald  |  Mutethia, David  |  Kioko, Titus  |  Hunt, Caroline

Publisher: WEDC
Place of publication: Loughborough University, UK
Year: 2006

Series: WELL Fact Sheet
Collection(s): WELL

Links:

• http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/wedc/well/

Child survival hinges on families and communities having the basic needs to support life, survival and prosperity of children. Among these, a safe and healthy environment is fundamental. However, children everywhere are negatively affected by adverse environmental conditions. Each year at least 3 million children under the age of five die in the world due to environmental-related illnesses. Such young children make up roughly 10% of the worlds population but comprise more than 40% of the population suffering health problems related to environment, (WHO 2002). Environmental risks to children include unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene, indoor air pollution, exposure to toxic chemicals, injuries and accidents among others.

Almost 42 million people in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania do not have access to improved water supply and 13 million do not have improved sanitation facilities (WHO/UNICEF 2000).

Keywords:
No keywords found