In Lebanon, the environment has been badly affected by the hostilities, which took place mainly in Beirut and its Suburbs.  In rural areas, there is a great need for integrating Environmental Health Services and Community Development.

The major Environmental Health problems that exist in Lebanon include:

-     Pollution of drinking water, which is a result of contamination of water sources, and lack of proper treatment of raw water.

-     Improper supervision of water treatment works.

-     Pollution of seawater

-     Improper treatment and disposal of wastewater.

-     Improper treatment and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes.

-     Food sanitation.

-     Air pollution due to cars, factories, power plants and quarries.

-     Soil pollution.

-     Accident prevention from traffic and safety control in public gatherings.

-     Control of vectors and rodents affecting public health.

-     Health aspects of housing.

-     Noise pollution.

The major institutions involved in environmental health management are:

-      Ministry of Health.

-      Ministry of Environment

-      Ministry of Hydraulic and Electrical resources.

-       Ministry of Agriculture

-       Ministry of Public Works (Department of Town planning)

-       Ministry of Industry and Petroleum.

-       Ministry of Education.

-       Ministry of Transport.

-       Ministry of Interior

-       Ministry of Rural and Municipal affairs.

-       Ministry of Habitat

-       Ministry of Tourism.

-       Council of Development and Reconstruction.

-     Universities (American University of Beirut, Balamand University, Lebanese University, etc.)

-     NGO’s (Lebanese Association for the Protection of Environment, Green line Association, Islamic Health Association, etc.).

-     Private sectors (Envirotech and other Research Bureaux).

A national plan of action was prepared, but no National Strategy and Plan of Action for Environmental health have been established yet. Since its creation in 1993, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) has been the primary responsible body for environmental management to formulate general environmental policy and proper measures for its implementation, protect the natural and man-made environment in the interests of public health and welfare, and control and prevent pollution irrespective of the source.  Several other institutions have direct or indirect involvement in environmental health quality control of water, air and soil. However, the Sanitary Engineering Department in MOH is still suffering from severe problems: inefficiency, shortage in sanitary engineers and health inspectors, low salaries and limited career prospects.

No regular survey or monitoring of air quality is undertaken in the country; Air pollution by vehicle concentration in Beirut, by Cement and power generation plans and open burning of solid wastes was reported.

With other partners, WHO announced in September 2003, the initiative on “Healthy Environments for Children” in the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Healthy environments for children was also the theme of the World Health day 2003. WHO in association with the Ministries of Health and Environment, together other UNICEF an UNDP organized and implemented several activities in the country on the subject during the WHD 2003. Among these activities, the debate with children in parliament was an interesting initiative to introduce the Healthy Environments for Children theme.

 Areas of action:

            -    Development of National strategic plan on Environmental
                  Health

-     National Plan of action for health and environment (DWQ, solid wastes, hospital waste, sanitation and wastewater reuse, air pollution   and food safety

o       National Action Plan for Drinking water quality

o       National standards for drinking water quality

-     Support to the training of health Inspectors

-     Assessment of the situation regarding environmental health hazards to children and implementation of a pilot project to protect children from environmental health hazards.

Objectives:

-     To facilitate the incorporation of effective health dimension into national development policies and into legal and regulatory framework governing management of the human environment;

-     To adopt sound environmental health guidelines and standards ;

-     To provide an environment that promotes health;

 For school health/environment and at what age they should be taught