African ministers resolve to reduce environmental threats to health

African health and environment ministers have agreed to form an alliance to reduce environmental threats to human health and well-being.

According to the Libreville Declaration, named after the Gabonese capital, where a four-day conference was held, the ministers committed governments in the region to take measures to stimulate the necessary policy, investment and institutional changes so that synergies between health, environment and other fields are maximized.

The text of the declaration received here on Monday was decided after participants concurred that the root causes of environmental degradation can be found in social and economic problems such as poverty, inequality of wealth, the debt burden and unsustainable production and consumption behaviors.

"The signing of this landmark declaration," said Luis G. Sambo, Regional Director of World Health Organization's (WHO) Africa Regional Office, "is the first step towards saving the lives of millions of people from the harmful effects of changes in the environment."