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Bufa-Dőrr Z, Sebestyén Á, Izsák B, Schmoll O, Pándics T, Vargha M. Dual system of water safety plan auditing in Hungary: benefits and lessons learnt. J Water Health 2023; 21:1663-1675. [PMID: 38017597 PMCID: wh_2023_130 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
A risk-based approach is recognised worldwide as the most reliable means for the provision of safe drinking water. Efficient implementation of the water safety plan (WSP) approach, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is facilitated by an auditing framework. In Hungary, development of WSPs is a legal obligation for water suppliers. WSPs are subject to a two-stage regulatory audit, a consultative central technical audit and a formal local audit. In 2019, a survey was conducted in cooperation with WHO to evaluate audit experiences of over 1,200 WSPs. Recommendations from the central audit significantly improved coherence and compliance of WSPs, confirming the efficiency of the dual approach. The use of a WSP template provided by the national authority further increased consistency and reduced time and work demand of the audit. Both water suppliers and public health authorities indicated a need for further capacity building on WSP development and auditing. The main challenge for water suppliers is the identification and risk assessment of hazards associated with the water source and distribution within premises. The recast European Union drinking water regulation is expected to accelerate the uptake of WSP and strengthen linkages to water catchment management and water safety in buildings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsanna Bufa-Dőrr
- Department of Public Health Laboratories and Methodology, National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy, Albert Flórián út 2-6, Budapest 1097, Hungary E-mail:
| | - Ágnes Sebestyén
- Department of Public Health Laboratories and Methodology, National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy, Albert Flórián út 2-6, Budapest 1097, Hungary
| | - Bálint Izsák
- Department of Public Health Laboratories and Methodology, National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy, Albert Flórián út 2-6, Budapest 1097, Hungary
| | - Oliver Schmoll
- World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, Bonn 53113, Germany
| | - Tamás Pándics
- Department of Public Health Laboratories and Methodology, National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy, Albert Flórián út 2-6, Budapest 1097, Hungary; Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Vas utca 17, Budapest 1088, Hungary
| | - Márta Vargha
- Department of Public Health Laboratories and Methodology, National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy, Albert Flórián út 2-6, Budapest 1097, Hungary
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van Daalen KR, Romanello M, Rocklöv J, Semenza JC, Tonne C, Markandya A, Dasandi N, Jankin S, Achebak H, Ballester J, Bechara H, Callaghan MW, Chambers J, Dasgupta S, Drummond P, Farooq Z, Gasparyan O, Gonzalez-Reviriego N, Hamilton I, Hänninen R, Kazmierczak A, Kendrovski V, Kennard H, Kiesewetter G, Lloyd SJ, Lotto Batista M, Martinez-Urtaza J, Milà C, Minx JC, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Palamarchuk J, Quijal-Zamorano M, Robinson EJZ, Scamman D, Schmoll O, Sewe MO, Sjödin H, Sofiev M, Solaraju-Murali B, Springmann M, Triñanes J, Anto JM, Nilsson M, Lowe R. The 2022 Europe report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: towards a climate resilient future. Lancet Public Health 2022; 7:e942-e965. [PMID: 36306805 PMCID: PMC9597587 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(22)00197-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kim R van Daalen
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK; Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marina Romanello
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Joacim Rocklöv
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jan C Semenza
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cathryn Tonne
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Niheer Dasandi
- School of Government, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Slava Jankin
- Data Science Lab, Hertie School, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hicham Achebak
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Ballester
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Max W Callaghan
- Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonathan Chambers
- Energy Efficiency Group, Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE), University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Shouro Dasgupta
- Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), Venice, Italy; Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE), UK
| | - Paul Drummond
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK
| | - Zia Farooq
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | | | - Ian Hamilton
- Energy Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Risto Hänninen
- Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Vladimir Kendrovski
- European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Bonn, Germany
| | - Harry Kennard
- Energy Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gregor Kiesewetter
- Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases Programme, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Simon J Lloyd
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martin Lotto Batista
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Barcelona, Spain; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of Epidemiology, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Jaime Martinez-Urtaza
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Milà
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jan C Minx
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marcos Quijal-Zamorano
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elizabeth J Z Robinson
- Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE), UK
| | - Daniel Scamman
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK
| | - Oliver Schmoll
- European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Henrik Sjödin
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mikhail Sofiev
- Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Marco Springmann
- Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food and Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Joaquin Triñanes
- Department of Electronics and Computer Science, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain
| | - Josep M Anto
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Nilsson
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Rachel Lowe
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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3
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Racioppi F, Rutter H, Nitzan D, Borojevic A, Carr Z, Grygaski TJ, Jarosińska D, Netanyahu S, Schmoll O, Stuetzle K, Van Den Akker A, Kluge HHP. The impact of war on the environment and health: implications for readiness, response, and recovery in Ukraine. Lancet 2022; 400:871-873. [PMID: 36116469 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)01739-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Racioppi
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn D-53113, Germany.
| | | | - Dorit Nitzan
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anja Borojevic
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zhanat Carr
- World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tanya Jean Grygaski
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Dorota Jarosińska
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn D-53113, Germany
| | - Sinaia Netanyahu
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn D-53113, Germany
| | - Oliver Schmoll
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn D-53113, Germany
| | - Karien Stuetzle
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark; World Health Organization Country Office in Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | | | - Hans Henri P Kluge
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Bijelović S, Grossi V, Shinee E, Schmoll O, Jovanović D, Paunović K, Dragić N, Velicki R. Water, sanitation, and hygiene services in health care facilities in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia. J Water Health 2022; 20:12-22. [PMID: 35100151 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2021.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Provision of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in health care facilities is a priority at the global, national, and local levels. To inform improvements planning, conditions of WASH, waste management, and environmental cleaning were assessed in 81 facilities in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, as part of a nationally representative survey in 2019. The survey included on-site checks, structured interviews, and drinking-water quality analysis. WHO/UNICEF indicators for WASH service levels and an advanced service level defined at the national level were applied. The results showed that all investigated facilities provided basic water services; 94% of facilities provided basic hygiene and waste management services; 58 and 2%, respectively, provided basic cleaning and sanitation services. Only 1% of investigated facilities met the basic level for all five WASH dimensions. Advanced service levels were only met for hygiene, waste management, and/or cleaning in 15-38% of facilities. In 33% of health care facilities, drinking-water quality was not in compliance with the national standards. The results revealed that there is a need for increased awareness and efforts to ensure basic provisions for sanitation, environmental cleaning, and drinking-water safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Bijelović
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, University of Novi Sad, Futoška 121, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia E-mail:
| | - Valentina Grossi
- WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Water and Climate Programme, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany; Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, GeoHealth Centre, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Enkhtsetseg Shinee
- WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Water and Climate Programme, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Oliver Schmoll
- WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Water and Climate Programme, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Dragana Jovanović
- Institute of Public Health of Serbia 'Dr Milan Jovanović Batut', Dr Subotića 5, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Paunović
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotića 8, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nataša Dragić
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, University of Novi Sad, Futoška 121, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia E-mail:
| | - Radmila Velicki
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, University of Novi Sad, Futoška 121, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia E-mail:
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5
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Romanello M, van Daalen K, Anto JM, Dasandi N, Drummond P, Hamilton IG, Jankin S, Kendrovski V, Lowe R, Rocklöv J, Schmoll O, Semenza JC, Tonne C, Nilsson M. Tracking progress on health and climate change in Europe. Lancet Public Health 2021; 6:e858-e865. [PMID: 34562381 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(21)00207-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Left unabated, climate change will have catastrophic effects on the health of present and future generations. Such effects are already seen in Europe, through more frequent and severe extreme weather events, alterations to water and food systems, and changes in the environmental suitability for infectious diseases. As one of the largest current and historical contributors to greenhouse gases and the largest provider of financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation, Europe's response is crucial, for both human health and the planet. To ensure that health and wellbeing are protected in this response it is essential to build the capacity to understand, monitor, and quantify health impacts of climate change and the health co-benefits of accelerated action. Responding to this need, the Lancet Countdown in Europe is established as a transdisciplinary research collaboration for monitoring progress on health and climate change in Europe. With the wealth of data and academic expertise available in Europe, the collaboration will develop region-specific indicators to address the main challenges and opportunities of Europe's response to climate change for health. The indicators produced by the collaboration will provide information to health and climate policy decision making, and will also contribute to the European Observatory on Climate and Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Romanello
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kim van Daalen
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK; Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Josep M Anto
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Niheer Dasandi
- School of Government, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Paul Drummond
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Slava Jankin
- Data Science Lab, Hertie School, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vladimir Kendrovski
- European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Bonn, Germany
| | - Rachel Lowe
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joacim Rocklöv
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Oliver Schmoll
- European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jan C Semenza
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cathryn Tonne
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Nilsson
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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6
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Grossi V, Shinee E, Schmoll O, Kistemann T. Water, sanitation and hygiene in health facilities and how they affect health in European countries. Eur J Public Health 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are human rights as well as important targets of the Sustainable Development Goals and a key component of quality of healthcare. Poor access to safe WASH impacts patients' health as it increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases, mental distress or avoidance of WASH services with additional negative health consequences. Global statistics show that the greatest risk exists in developing countries, while there is little data available from the WHO European Region. Our research aims at gathering an up-to-date overview of WASH data and health consequences on the example of a number of districts from four middle- and high-income countries in the European Region.
Methods
A mixed-methods analysis was conducted, including literature review, one-shot surveys addressing different types of healthcare services and different socio-economical settings, policy analyses, expert interviews and desk-review of health statistics.
Results
Preliminary results show that differences and commonalities are observed with respect to the WASH provision and management in healthcare across the considered areas in the region. While basic drinking-water is widely provided, other aspects, such as sanitation, are in need of attention both at the regulatory and implementation level. Also within countries, local differences are observed. Conditions of WASH services in health care are linked with the spread of (resistant) nosocomial infections through many different pathogens with consequences for patients, mothers and children, and for the broader population, influencing morbidity and mortality.
Conclusions
New insights on the condition of WASH services in healthcare facilities and increasing relevance of WASH-related health outcomes, such as antimicrobial resistance and nosocomial infections, show the need for increased attention to basic services such as sanitation and hygiene in healthcare also in European countries and for locally-targeted interventions.
Key messages
Water, sanitation and hygiene are a critical component of quality of health care and severely affect staff’s performance and patients’ health, with consequences for the population. Water, sanitation and hygiene need more attention in middle- and high-income countries in the WHO European Region, both at the regulatory and implementation level.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Grossi
- Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO/Europe, Bonn, Germany
| | - E Shinee
- European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO/Europe, Bonn, Germany
| | - O Schmoll
- European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO/Europe, Bonn, Germany
| | - T Kistemann
- Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Abstract
In 2018, Montenegro took an important step towards ratification of the Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. A multisectoral national consultation provided a forum where national stakeholders could assist in related decision-making. The Protocol is the first and only multilateral legal agreement linking sustainable water management and the prevention, control and reduction of water-related diseases in the pan-European region. It was adopted in 1999 at the Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in London and entered into force in 2005 as legally binding for the ratifying countries. To date, 26 countries have ratified it, covering about 60% of the population of the pan-European region. Montenegro is on the way to becoming the next country to ratify it and has used it as an instrument to strengthen national action towards progressively reaching regional and global WASH-related commitments, specifically in relation to SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and the Ostrava Declaration on Environment and Health (2017).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oliver Schmoll
- Water and Climate Programme, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany
| | - Enkhtsetseg Shinee
- Water and Climate Programme, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mina Brajovic
- Montenegro Country Office, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bettina Menne
- Sustainable Development and Health, Division of Policy and Governance for Health and Well-being, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Francesco Zambon
- Investment for Health and Development in Healthy Settings, WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development, Venice, Italy
| | - Leda Nemer
- Investment for Health and Development in Healthy Settings, WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development, Venice, Italy
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Racioppi F, Martuzzi M, Matić S, Braubach M, Morris G, Krzyżanowski M, Jarosińska D, Schmoll O, Adamonytė D. Reaching the sustainable development goals through healthy environments: are we on track? Eur J Public Health 2020; 30:i14-i18. [PMID: 32391904 PMCID: PMC7213421 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015 opened new opportunities to work towards healthy environments through ‘whole of government’ and ‘whole of society’ approaches. It created a strong policy platform that acknowledges health as a result and an enabler of sustainable policies across all sectors of government. Five years into the process, an initial analysis of emerging trends indicates that, despite some encouraging developments in policy as well as overall progress in economy and technology, there remains a gap between rhetoric, ambition and reality. In particular, the monitoring system for environment and health-related sustainable development goals (SDGs) and targets requires further development; inequalities in environment and health persist and in some areas have increased; equity is not yet a central element of implementation and reporting on the achievement of the SDGs; and, most worrying of all, trends in key environmental indicators that are vital to the survival of the human species, such as those related to climate change and biodiversity, are still on an overall negative path. In summary, governments must significantly and rapidly increase action to secure the habitability and safety of planet Earth. The public health community assumes an unprecedented role in placing and maintaining health and equity at the heart of the political agenda. This demands new governance models conferring on the health sector a clear mandate and legitimacy to operate across sectors. It also requires enhancing capacities among health professionals to embrace this new level of complexity, understand the multiple links between sectoral policies and health, and successfully engage with other government sectors and stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Racioppi
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany
| | - M Martuzzi
- World Health Organization Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - S Matić
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Braubach
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany
| | - G Morris
- WHO Collaborating Centre on Natural Environments and Health, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - M Krzyżanowski
- Environmental Research Group, School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - D Jarosińska
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany
| | - O Schmoll
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany
| | - D Adamonytė
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany
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Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes water safety plans (WSPs) - a risk-based management approach - for premise plumbing systems in buildings to prevent deterioration of drinking-water quality. Experience with the implementation of WSPs in buildings were gathered within a pilot project in Germany. The project included an evaluation of the feasibility and advantages of WSPs by all stakeholders who share responsibility in drinking-water safety. While the feasibility of the concept was demonstrated for all buildings, benefits reported by building operators varied. The more technical standards were complied with before implementing WSP, the less pronounced were the resulting improvements. In most cases, WSPs yielded an increased system knowledge and awareness for drinking-water quality issues. WSPs also led to improved operation of the premise plumbing system and provided benefits for surveillance authorities. A survey among the European Network of Drinking-Water Regulators on the existing legal framework regarding drinking-water safety in buildings exhibited that countries are aware of the need to manage risks in buildings' installations, but experience with WSP is rare. Based on the successful implementation and the positive effects of WSPs on drinking-water quality, we recommend the establishment of legal frameworks that require WSPs for priority buildings whilst accounting for differing conditions in buildings and countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Schmidt
- German Environment Agency, Schichauweg 58, 12307 Berlin, Germany E-mail:
| | - Bettina Rickert
- German Environment Agency, Schichauweg 58, 12307 Berlin, Germany E-mail:
| | - Oliver Schmoll
- World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Rapp
- German Environment Agency, Heinrich-Heine-Str. 12, 08645 Bad Elster, Germany
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Kendrovski V, Schmoll O. Priorities for protecting health from climate change in the WHO European Region: recent regional activities. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2019; 62:537-545. [PMID: 31016365 PMCID: PMC6507478 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-019-02943-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Evidence of the impact of climate change on health is growing. Health systems need to be prepared and gradually adapt to the effects of climate change, including extreme weather events.Fossil fuel combustion as the driver of climate change poses a tremendous burden of disease. In turn, cutting greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors will achieve health co-benefits. If all countries meet the Paris Agreement by 2030, the annual number of avoidable premature deaths could total 138,000 across the entire European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO).Several international frameworks promote a stronger commitment by countries to implementing the necessary adaptations in the health sector and to addressing health considerations in adaptation measures in other sectors. The WHO has a mandate from its member states to identify solutions and help prevent or reduce health impacts, including those from climate change.National governments are continuing to establish public health adaptation measures, which provide a rationale for and trigger action on climate change by the health community. Effective national responses to climate risks require strategic analyses of current and anticipated threats. Health professionals need to play a proactive role in promoting health arguments and evidence in the formulation of national climate change adaptation and mitigation responses. To this end, country capacities need to be further strengthened to identify and address local health risks posed by climate change and to develop, implement and evaluate health-focused interventions through integrated approaches. Building climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities is an essential pillar of health sector leadership to address climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Kendrovski
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinigten Nationen 1, 53113, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Oliver Schmoll
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinigten Nationen 1, 53113, Bonn, Germany
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