The World Health Organisation (WHO) has disclosed that the number of people estimated to have died as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment is now 12.6 million.
The WHO National Consultant, Public Health and Environment, Dr Edwin-Isotu Edeh, made the disclosure at the 6th annual conference of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ) in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
The three-day conference, which began on Friday, was organised by ANHEJ in collaboration with the WHO.
In his address, Edeh noted that the figure represents one in four deaths worldwide, adding that it highlights the terrible effects of the waste and chemicals that have contaminated the air, water, and land since the end of World War II.
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He said that the deaths were due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which included heart disease and cancer and were related to exposure to the pollution which now made up 8.2 million or nearly two-thirds of the total deaths.
In his words, โDeaths from infectious diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea due to unsafe water and lack of sanitation represent one-third and are on the decline.
Continuing, he said, โlow- and middle-income countries seem to bear the greatest burden of environment-related diseases and injuries.
Speaking further, he said, โthese include NCDs like cardiovascular diseases and cancers, while the highest number of deaths per capita attributable to the environment occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, primarily from infectious diseases.โ
Story was adapted from PM News.
