The Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Tshekedi Khama has revealed that Botswana is aware of the link between environment and health which is why the country became signatory to the Libreville Declaration in August 2008.

The declaration wanted to see a commitment made by Environment and Health Ministers to establish a strategic alliance.

“….the interaction between human health and the environment has been extensively documented and environmental risks have been proven to significantly impact human health, either directly by exposing people to harmful agents, or indirectly, by disrupting life-sustaining ecosystems,” Khama said at the official launch of Situational Analysis and Needs Assessment (SANA) report in Gaborone.

Khama noted that even-though the exact contribution of environmental factors to human death and disease cannot be precisely determined, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that 13 million deaths annually are attributable to preventable environmental causes, and Batswana are not spared.

“It is for these reasons that Botswana participated in activities that led to signing of the Libreville Declaration in August 2008 in full recognition of the linkages that exists between the environment and health,” he added.

He said by ratifying this declaration Botswana committed to implementation of its principles which include the establishment of a Health-and-Environment Strategic Alliance (HESA), development of national, sub-regional and regional frameworks for effective integration of health and environment into national development plans and building institutional capacity to better prevent environment-related health problems.

Khama also said the protection of human health is enshrined in the concept of sustainable development. “The social pillar of sustainability embraces principles that focus on livelihood improvement, and health is a key element in this regard.”

“These issues are captured in global sustainability such as the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in August 2002, where the quality of life was  identified as a key aspect of sustainable development, among others”.

The Botswana government said it hoped the SANA report provides evidence that in Botswana, as is the case elsewhere, health and environmental risks are significant and should be reduced. It therefore becomes apparent that collaboration between the two Ministries is inevitable.

Khama’s ministry has proposed that the next Environmental Outlook should focus more on health and environment linkages. In elaborating that environmental outlook climate change becomes a key aspect which manifests itself through water quality, air pollution and the influence on physical and settlement planning decisions.

“The delivery of this Situational Analysis and Needs Assessment should help us focus on the common good for all of us as stakeholder partners,” said the minister.

“As a regulatory Ministry, I wish to emphasise the need for everyone to seriously live up to expectations with regard to issues of self-regulation and monitoring with clear performance indicators.”