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The WHO Centre for Environmental Health Activities (CEHA) is a specialized centre for environmental health established in 1985 in Amman, Jordan, by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. CEHA’s mission is to promote environmental health through strengthening national capabilities and programmes for environmental health in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Where do we operate?
CEHA’s activities and services are available to the countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: Afghanistan; Bahrain; Djibouti; Egypt; Islamic Republic of Iran; Iraq; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Morocco; Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Somalia; Sudan; Syrian Arab Republic; Tunisia; United Arab Emirates; Yemen.
Why environmental health? Environmental degradation is an important factor contributing to the burden of disease. Premature death and illness caused by environmental factors account for one-fifth of the global burden of disease. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, this proportion ranges`from 19% to 25%. The resulting human, economic and social costs are considerable, threatening the foundation for sustainable development. The annual cost of damage to health and quality of life due to environmental degradation is estimated to be 1.8% to 3.4% of gross domestic product in some countries of the Region. CEHA is guided by a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of international experts, WHO staff and representatives of Member States and donor agencies. The Committee meets on a biennial basis to determine CEHA’s working priorities based on review of global, regional and national environmental health strategies, recommendations of regional and national meetings, and output of technical support and assessment missions. Current working priorities areas follows.
Although many solutions to environmental health problems are known, they are often not promoted or reflected in policy, or tailored to the specific conditions of countries in the Region. CEHA offers a number of activities and services to help countries in adapting and adopting the most appropriate and cost-effective interventions to minimize the burden of environmental risks. Human resources development: training courses, seminars, workshops and conferences at national and regional levels, as well as developing, adapting and translating reliable and relevant training and learning material. Information exchange and management services: a regional environmental health information network (CEHANET) provides access to reliable and relevant environmental health information for professionals and institutions in the Region. Technical cooperation: expert advice for problem-solving, programme planning and institutional development, as well as support to countries in the acquisition of necessary facilities and equipment. Special and applied research studies: fill gaps in existing knowledge about health and environment links and impacts in priority areas of the Region. Development, compilation and promotion of tools for protecting health and environment in the Region
Stronger capacity of environmental health agencies to provide effective environmental health services
Improved access to reliable and relevant environmental health information
Increased awareness of decision-makers, professional staff and the public about health and environment linkages and problems
Provision of environmental health information and services during emergencies and in refugee camps Actions to protect populations from environmental hazards often lie within the domain of other sectors; however, the health sector has a responsibility to report and act on all health risks. Addressing such risks requires partnership involving health, environment and other sectors. CEHA works closely with countries and other relevant United Nations agencies, together with local and international partners, to ensure a coherent approach to policies, programmes and action. Since its establishment, CEHA has reached out to national, regional and international institutions and other specialized and funding agencies to seek collaboration in activities of mutual interest. Over the past 20 years, these efforts have resulted in a number of fruitful partnerships to promote effective environmental health interventions.
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Arab
Gulf Programme for the United Nations Development
Organizations (AGFUND)
Arab
Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD)
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Islamic
Development Bank (IDB)
United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
World
Bank