User talk:Karuga1

Environmental sanitation refers to the practices of application of scientific, biological as well as physical sanitary measures and policies as well as knowledge to improve and monitor the environment and risk factors that pose a threat to the environment which can lead to a possible health hazard. It can also be defined as all practices that improve the standards of elementary environmental conditions that have an effect on the well-being of the people occupying it. These primary requirements include clean as well as safe water supply, the supply of fresh and ambient air free of pollution, effective and efficient disposal of the animal, human as well as industrial waste, ample protection against chemical poisoning and contaminants and environmental hygiene. Environmental health refers to the protection practices that ensure clean households and safe surroundings in the homesteads (World Health Organisation 112). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the issue of environmental sanitation has become a major concern around the globe due to increasing levels of neglection of sanitations regarding the environmental conditions aforementioned. According to a report by the organization, approximately 2.5 billion people around the world are living under highly unsanitary environmental conditions which pose a significant health risk to their wellbeing (World Health Organisation 87). The WHO report gives an example of insufficient and inappropriate water storage at home facilities. The water stored under poor conditions is frequently polluted by inadequate management practices around the living areas. The issue of environmental sanitation has currently received a major concern and has become an integral part of the health organization around the grounded as they are engaged in extensive discussions on measures as well as policies to implement to ensure proper sanitation conditions in the homes of people in the world. These efforts face a huge setback when it comes tom implementation of appropriate measures considering the massive backlog that lies within this sector. This fact mandates the need to increase mobilization of the available resources as well as actively involve decision-makers at all merits concerning world health and its relation to proper sanitation conditions regarding the environment (World Health Organisation 115). Problem analysis Risk factors to Environment sanitation and health Vector-borne disease One of the leading killer agents among people especially those living in the developing countries is the vector-borne disease. The highest leading and in fact world number one vector-borne disease is malaria. Malaria accounts for almost 1.2 million deaths of people annually. The majority in this figure are African children who are aged below the age of 5 years. A major concern has also lead to attention to the increase in cases relating to Dengue Fever, which is associated with the Dengue Hemorrhagic fever (DHF) which is also a vector-borne disease. The two mentioned vector-borne disease are as a result of poor designs of irrigation systems as well as water systems. They also arise from an insufficient housing, inadequate methods of disposing of waste materials as well as poor means of water storage facilities. Other factors that relate to the outbreak of malaria and dengue fever are deforestation as well as the increased loss of biodiversity. Malaria is caused by the mosquito Anopheles. These mosquitos have their habitats in stagnant water, as well as waste informs of slug or around bushes. Stagnant water is as a result of inadequate water systems that fail to dispose water to the right location as well as poor irrigation systems (Sachs and Malaney 55). The urban environment The link between environmental sanitation and urban cities can be established from increased population in the towns. According to a scholar article by Jameson Arrieta, in 20b yeas to come, the highest growth rate in population will be experienced in the cities. The increase in the number of people in a geographical location that is not expanding leads to a corresponding increase in unplanned as well as unsustainable patterns that mark the development of the urban centers (Jameson 40). This fact makes these cities be the start point from which much environmental and health hazard emerge. This results will be caused by increased pollution regarding disposal of waste materials, insufficient sewer systems, and lack of clean water supply as well as congestion. The outbreak of diseases like cholera is related to such unsanitary environmental conditions. Unsustainable transport means and urban land usage are other driving factors causing environmental health related hazards faced by town dwellers (Jameson 43). Water, health, and ecosystems Health risks that result from water, health and ecosystem are related to insufficient access to water regarding cleanliness and quantity as well as quality. Lack of sufficient water supply is one of the leading causes of water related diseases which is dictated by the conditions of the ecosystem (Jameson 33). According to WHO, most countries are in geographical locations in which they face the water availability challenge. The increase in water scarcity according to WHO is related to the growing depletion of the ecosystem and greater contamination of the environment. The release of industrial waste into water bodies and oil spillage in the ocean are the leading causes of water pollution. Consumption of such waters is a threat to the health of the consumer which a possible result of adverse health complications (World Health Organisation 120). Climate change The United Nations have been concerned about climate change since 1988 with the development of policies that are aimed at controlling factors that lead to climate change such as air pollution. The conditions of climate change are linked to changes in temperature and variations in the rainfall patterns. The changes both in temperature and rainfall affect the transmission patterns of several diseases such as water related and vector-borne diseases. Such transmission patterns relate to malaria transmission as well as diarrhea. Climate change has also been figured to cause deaths due to increase in temperature. According to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), The temperature degrees on earth has risen by 0.6% since 1800 (Jameson 67).The increase in temperature has an effect on individuals which can result in death. The report indicated deaths that resulted from extreme conditions of the weather such as floods or extreme temperatures. Changes in climate patterns especially rainfall patterns has a major effect on the production of food as well as the decay of dry foods not harvested. This effect results in health impacts such as malnutrition. Research by scholars also reveals the cause of climate change as the continued emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG) which is expected to create health burdens in the coming future. The risk of diseases caused by the emission of greenhouse gasses mostly affects the pose population who typically contribute negligible effort to the emission of these gasses (United Nations 70). Toxic hazards According to the WHO, Approximately 355000 people die on earth on an annual basis due to unintended poisoning and intoxication especially in developing countries which accounts or 75% of the total deaths. The majority of the deaths occurred due to exposure to health hazards in the environment, improper use of toxic chemicals or inadequate disposal of chemical toxins which can directly be absorbed into the soil and end up in water bodies. If the water is then consumed, it poses a threat to human health (World Health Organisation 116). Disease prevention values principles and solutions In the control of vector-borne diseases, the best and cost effective methods should be implemented. These control measures should have a minimal effect on the environment and should not have side effects to the public health that is, minimal chemical use should be implemented. Other methods of control methods should also be integrated such as the elimination of breeding grounds for vectors through proper designs of water systems and irrigation systems. In the control of health risks caused by exposure to toxic hazards such as chemicals and agrochemicals such as pesticides, measures should be implemented to manage highly poisonous chemicals by following their use until disposal (World Health Organisation 95). Educational programs should be set at the national level to inform the public about the health hazard caused by chemicals and ways in which they can be controlled. Nations worldwide should work in line with the Kyoto Protocol set in 1997 which mandates all countries to comply with the policies of control of emissions to the environment. Countries accounting for the largest percentage of emissions are mandated to improve the health facilities in the developing communities to reduce the climate change impacts in the days to come. Protection of watershed will serve as a right solution to contamination of water as the ecosystem has its mechanisms in which it purifies water. Man technologies can also be integrated to enhance the purification process as well as ensuring proper disposal of waste by prohibiting disposal of these wastes into water bodies. The government should provide electrification, water supply as well as employment in the rural areas to control the number of people migrating to urban areas in search for these services (Nantulya and Reicher 40).