Philipsburg- Commissioner of Public Health Maria Buncamper-Molanus says every individual in the community has a role to play in protecting the environment and reversing climate change.World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.
Commemorated annually on June 5, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.
This year's theme is: "Your Planet Needs You-Unite to Combat Climate Change." The theme reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen coming up later this year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.
Proper environmental management is the key to avoiding the quarter of all preventable illnesses which are directly caused by environmental factors.
The environment influences our health in many ways through exposures to physical, chemical and biological risk factors, and through related changes in our behavior in response to those factors.
Thirteen million deaths annually are due to preventable environmental causes. Preventing environmental risk could save as many as four million lives a year, in children alone, mostly in developing countries.
As part of its calendar of health observances, WED is also part of the Preventive Health Department issues that falls under its annual calendar of observances. The calendar is to promote particular health-related issues or topics during a specific identified time in the year.
"Everybody has to get involved in the fight against global warming as a result of climate change. Environmental factors do influence public health. The collective efforts of everyone can make a huge difference.
"I encourage our community to look at ways and means that can result in you taking action to protect our environment which in one way or the other also contributes to protecting our plant earth and public health. Happy World Environment Day," Commissioner of Public Health Maria Buncamper-Molanus told the Government Information Service (GIS).