Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 23 October 2023 – To fight childhood lead poisoning, the WHO Country Office within the Islamic Republic of Iran, in collaboration with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, will host a global We held a lead poisoning prevention week. 2023. This yr’s marketing campaign is “Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning” and on this case the companions are specializing in their work within the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The collaborative initiative started with a one-day symposium that introduced collectively healthcare professionals, coverage makers, and the educational neighborhood. A complete of 18 consultants, together with teachers and practitioners within the discipline, make clear the assorted well being results of lead publicity. They emphasised the essential want for motion to guard public well being, particularly the well being of kids.
Lead, a well known poisonous substance, poses a severe menace to human well being, affecting the nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and blood methods. Children are significantly prone, ingesting 4 to 5 occasions extra lead than adults from sure sources.
In his speech on the symposium, Dr. Saeed Jafar Hussein, WHO Director and Head of Delegation to the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighted the dangerous results of lead, particularly on youngsters and ladies of childbearing age. He confused that secure ranges of lead publicity are unknown. Fortunately, lead publicity is preventable.
WHO knowledge reveals a sobering statistic. More than 2 million deaths worldwide have been brought on by chemical publicity in 2019, with lead publicity accounting for practically half of the deaths. Globally, lead publicity resulted in an extra 21.7 million incapacity years misplaced (disability-adjusted life years, or DALYs) in 2019. In 2019, lead publicity was estimated to account for 30% of the worldwide burden of idiopathic mental incapacity, 4.6% of the worldwide burden of heart problems, and three% of the worldwide burden of persistent kidney illness. ing.
International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week goals to boost consciousness in regards to the well being results of lead publicity. Highlight efforts by international locations and companions to forestall lead publicity, particularly amongst youngsters. And we advocate for additional motion to get rid of lead paint by nationwide regulatory motion. This marketing campaign builds on the success of banning using lead in gasoline and the efforts in lots of international locations to go legal guidelines limiting using lead in paint, particularly in areas the place youngsters are uncovered, resembling houses, faculties, and playgrounds. Based on progress.
Height stickers with informative messages in regards to the results of lead publicity on youngsters’s well being have been created and distributed to pediatricians on the symposium and given to sufferers. These stickers have the message “Lead-free youngsters: taller, smarter, more healthy – take into consideration lead publicity” and embrace illustrations of vegatables and fruits that cut back the absorption of lead within the blood. is depicted. This useful resource can be utilized to boost consciousness and goal youngsters, who’re the primary beneficiaries of this marketing campaign.