CEHAPE - Enhis

Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe

The Four Regional Priority Goals of the CEHAPE

Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards and should be considered as a specific risk group when formulating environmental health policies. CEHAPE recognizes this, and is targeted at policy makers who deal with the environmental risk factors that most affect the health of European children. It was developed at the request of and in collaboration with WHO Europe Member States, and was adopted by European Ministers at the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health (2004) on "The Future for Our Children". Ministers have committed to develop and begin implementing national plans – CEHAPs (Children’s Environment and Health Action Plans) - by 2007.

The Four Regional Priority Goals of the CEHAPE

For each Regional Priority Goal (RPG) a list of indicators has been developed.

RPG I: to prevent and significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality arising from gastrointestinal disorders and other health effects, by ensuring that adequate measures are taken to improve access to safe and affordable water and adequate sanitation for all children..

Indicators related to RPG I:

Bathing water quality

Outbreaks of waterborne diseases

Public water supply and access to improved water sources

Wastewater treatment and access to improved sanitation

RPG II: to prevent and substantially reduce health consequences from accidents and injuries and pursue a decrease in morbidity from lack of adequate physical activity, by promoting safe, secure and supportive human settlements for all children

Indicators related to RPG II:

Policies to reduce and prevent excess body weight and obesity in children and adolescents

Mortality from road traffic injuries in children and young people

Mortality in children and adolescents from unintentional injuries (falls, drowning, fires and poisoning)

Prevalence of excess body weight and obesity in children and adolescents

Percentage of physically active children and adolescents

Policies to promote safe mobility and transport for children

Policies to reduce and prevent unintentional injuries from falls, drowning, poisoning, fires and choking in children and adolescents

RPG III: to prevent and reduce respiratory disease due to outdoor and indoor air pollution, thereby contributing to a reduction in the frequency of asthmatic attacks, in order to ensure that children can live in an environment with clean air

Indicators related to RPG III:

Policies to reduce the exposure of children to environmental tobacco smoke

Prevalence of asthma and allergies in children

Infant mortality from respiratory diseases

Exposure of children to air pollution (particulate matter) in outdoor air

Exposure of children to environmental tobacco smoke

Children living in homes with problems of dampness

Proportion of children living in homes using solid fuels

RPG IV: to reduce the risk of disease and disability arising from exposure to hazardous chemicals (such as heavy metals), physical agents (e.g. excessive noise) and biological agents and to hazardous working environments during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence

Indicators related to RPG IV:

Policies to reduce the excessive exposure of children to ultraviolet radiation

Incidence of childhood leukaemia

Incidence of melanoma in people aged under 55 years

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Human Milk

Exposure of children to chemical hazards in food

Levels of lead in children’s blood

Radon levels in dwellings

Work injuries in children and young people