Castries, Saint Lucia, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr C James Hospedales said economic growth should not come at the expense of healthy people and a healthy environment; and referred to this imbalance as one of the greatest challenges this Region faces. Dr Hospedales was speaking at the opening of a three-day Caribbean Environmental Health Conference co-hosted by CARPHA, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Saint Lucia.
Dr Hospedales pointed out that while economic factors can significantly influence decision-making, in recent times, there is stronger demand for social and environmental justice and protection of health and well-being. He said “Protection of the natural environment not only protects health through pollution and disease prevention, but also protects livelihoods, environmental services such as flood mitigation that can safeguard against injury during disasters.”
PAHO Engineer, Adrianus Vlugman commended the Caribbean on the strides made in water supply and basic sanitation. However, he said integrated water resources management, water safety planning, liquid waste management and excreta disposal, the management of solid and hazardous waste (including medical waste) remain areas of great concern.
UNEP’s Chis Corbin agreed with Engineer Vlugman, emphasizing that these “bread and butter” environmental health issues impact on human health and security as well as the critical sectors for growth, such as Tourism, Fisheries and Maritime Transportation.
The theme of the Conference is “Meeting Environmental Challenges in the Caribbean through Partnership” and will focus on a holistic, all-inclusive approach that targets all levels of impact and influence. Regional and international professionals with competencies in health, environment, water, waste management, physical planning, finance and tourism will develop innovative, Caribbean-specific solutions to environmental health and sustainable development challenges.