Download Vienna Declaration of Environmental Standards for Healthcare Facilities in English (MS WORD format – 90KB), Armenian (MS WORD format – 50 KB / PDF – 343 KB) and Russian (MS WORD format – 50KB / PDF – 386 KB).

“CleanMed Europe” is the first international healthcare congress on sustainable products and practices in Europe. CleanMed has already been a huge success in the United states.
“CleanMed Europe” covered a broad array of topics on environmental improvement in healthcare facilities and highlighted best practices and significant success stories in the healthcare sector:

• Environmental pollution and human health
• Environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities
• Implementing green procurement
• Environmental hazards of pharmaceuticals
• PVC alternatives
• Replacement of toxic materials
• Organic food, Cleaning, Disinfection, Laundry
• Environmental management systems, EMAS, ISO 14001
• Information and training
• Alternatives to waste incineration
• Green and healthy buildings (Pre-conference)

About 300 participants from 28 countries took part in the congress. There were 60 reporters, among them 15 from HCWH.
NGO AWHHE participated in CleanMed from HCWH.
The outcome of the Congress was Vienna Declaration of Environmental Standards for Healthcare Facilities.

 

         Cesta Hrdinka – Executive Director of HCWH Europe             Manfred Mühlberger – Director of ETA

We, the participants of the first International Healthcare congress on Sustainable Products and Practices “CleanMed Europe” assembled in Vienna from 6-8 October 2004 declare our commitment to realize the following principles:

Continually increasing pollution and subsequent damage caused to natural ecosystems is seriously threatening the health of humans around the world. The operation of healthcare facilities is contributing to these environmental and health impacts. Society expects healthcare professionals not only to work at curing patients but also to prevent diseases while maintaining health. We strongly recognize the need to transform healthcare in a way, so that healthcare is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source to harm to public health and the environment.

Environmental protection shall be a main principle for the operation of healthcare facilities. Environmental considerations shall be a main management principle and be taken into account in all decisions, procedures and practices without impairing the quality of care. That provides healthcare professional with the credibility to advocate necessary ecological changes in society and to give good examples for a more sustainable way of living.

We recognize our responsibility for the people working and staying for healthcare facilities and consider avoiding pollution as a major contribution to health and wellbeing of employees, patients and visitors.

Binding environmental standards shall be established in healthcare for all relevant topics and areas, including:

• Apply strict environmental criteria for the selection of suppliers and products (green procurement)
• Whenever possible without affecting health care quality and safety substitute products manufactured out of unnatural compounds like PVC (polyvinyl chloride), persistent toxic chemicals of heavy metals, with ones fitting into the natural materials cycles (break down easily in nature)
• Use organically grown and fair traded food, making up at least 30% of all food cost
• Use energy generated from renewable sources
• Reduce consumption and strive for as efficient use of all resources: materials, products, energy and water
• Always consider the possibility to replace one-way items and implement the resterilisation of medical products
• Build and renovate healthcare facilities toxic free, with low-energy consumption, following green design and healing principles
• Preserve green areas of healthcare facilities in an ecologically sound way and transform them into healing environments. Make people aware how precious they are
• Inform employees, patients and the public about all relevant environmental aspects and activities of your healthcare facility
• Develop a comprehensive environmental policy, set up environmental programmes with goals and measures, build up an environmental organization and use environmental management systems for implementation
• Environmental protection and health protection both are major national and international policy goals. Taking that into account, the European Union and national governments should establish and extend the necessary legal framework for binding environmental standards in society and for healthcare facilities.

Nairobi, Kenya
Oct 4 2004 to Oct 8 2004

Contact: UNEP Chemicals
Telephone: 41-22-917-8191
Fax: 41-22-797-3460
Email: chemicals@unep.ch
Web Site: http://www.chem.unep.ch/saicm/
Event Type: Conferences – invitation only (UN Negotiations/Hearings)

SAICM PrepCom 2 will be held from 4-8 October 2004 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Download Power Point presentation on SAICM (184 KB)

Date: 23/09/2004-24/09/2004
Location: Vienna
Country: Austria

As the new regulations and procedures of REACH will affect not only the present member states but also a number of (by then) new member states, it is very important to identify the difficulties that may arise as well as the associated challenges.

It is also of great importance to know how the enlargement of the European Union will influence the intended system and vice versa.

The Conference will focus on and therefore facilitate:

• The implementation of existing EU provisions in the area of chemicals policy.
• The aims and procedures within the transitional period until the new EU chemicals Policy is in force.
• The shaping of the capacities and structures necessary to ensure adequate implementation and enforcement of the existing and the future system.

The event is hosted by the European Commission in co-operation with the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management and the Austrian Umweltbundesamt.

Contact: Dr. Karin Kratz
Umweltbundesamt
Tel: +43-1-313 04/5631
E-Mail: karin.kratz@umweltbundesamt.at

This year the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, The Future For Our Children will take place in Budapest, 23. – 25. June 04. 110 Health and environment ministers from the 52 countries of the WHO European Region will meet to adopt a Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan and a Ministerial Declaration. .

WECF is the official representative of the environmental organisations, having been elected as chair of the European Eco-Forum Health and Environment Issue Group (www.eco-forum.org). WECF’s director will give in name of the environmental NGOs an intervention to the ministers on June 23rd at 15:00.

Alongside the ministerial event, the 2nd Healthy Planet Forum will provide a platform for civil society to highlight their concerns, showcase their innovative projects and activities, and comment on the decisions being taken by ministers. WECF is co-organiser and one of the sponsors of the parallel NGO conference “Healthy Planet Forum“, see the programme. 250 organisations from NGOs and civil society have registered for the Healthy Planet Forum. A programme is available on the Healthy Planet Forum website.

WECF is also together with EPHA (www.epha.org) the organiser of the “Roundtable Debate between Ministers and NGOs” which will take place on the 24th from 16:00-18:00 hours.

WECF and EPHA organised a preparartory NGO meeting in December 2003 in Brussels where a ‘Statement’ was prepared (download). 

Representatives from Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) from 30 countries together with many of their colleagues from across Europe stood in silent appeal at the doors leading to the main plenary hall. The women made their statement at the Budapest Convention Center plenary hall corridors while delegates and ministers from 49 European countries passed into the conference room to consider the adoption of the Children’s Environmental and Health Action Plan for Europe.

Annemarie Mohr of Germany, together with her 4-months old baby girl Carlotta was among those standing in silent vigil. “I don’t want to wait for another 10 years of evidence to find out if Phthalates will disrupt the hormonal system of my child. That will be too late for Carlotta. Delegates should take action now to protect our children”.

Download the full version of the pressrelease for the pressaction.

Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health
Budapest, Hungary, 23–25 June 2004
“The future for our children”

The effects of a degraded environment on children’s health raise increasing concern. Every year, unhealthy environments cause the death of over 5 million children worldwide.
The Budapest Conference is the European response to this situation. WHO/Europe has taken the lead in the action for children and has focused the Conference on ‘The future for our children’.
The Budapest Conference is the fourth in a series started in 1989, bringing together ministers of health and of the environment as well as major stakeholders. European ministers are expected to reach consensus and make political commitments to ensure safer environments for children, through the adoption of a Conference declaration and of a children’s environment and health action plan for Europe (CEHAPE).
Download CEHAPE in MS Word (doc) format
Download Conference Declaration in PDF format

Waste Not, Burn Not

The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives/Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA) is organizing for the third consecutive year a Global Day of Action on Waste, which for this year will be held on 1 September 2004. GDAW 2004 seeks to draw international attention to safe and sustainable alternatives to incinerating waste. to conserve our planet’s diminishing resources. generate livelihood and employment. protect human health and the environment from toxic materials, processes and pollutants. GDAW 2004 aims to amplify the citizens’ voice that calls out for authentic solutions to the growing volume and toxicity of today’s “take, make and throw” society, without incineration. Public interest groups are enjoined to participate.

To get involved, please contact Manny C. Calonzo 
at manny.gaia@no-burn.org or
register online at www.no-burn.org.

We thank you for your kindest consideration. Your support will surely help in realizing the good objectives of GDAW 2004 towards a cleaner and healthier planet.

We encourage everyone to support our GDAW. Kindly confirm your participation before 31 July 2004.

Thank you very much and best wishes.

Sincerely yours,
Manny C. Calonzo
Assistant Coordinator, GAIA
Unit 320, Eagle Court, 26 Matalino St., Quezon City,Philippines
+632-9290376 (phone), +632-4364733 (fax)
manny.gaia@no-burn.org

In celebration of the Stockholm Convention’s entry in force, AWHHE Armenia carried out several activities to disseminate information about POPs Convention and its object of 12 toxic chemicals.

1.Round table and press conference was held at the house of journalists (Yerevan, Pushkin 3a) on MAY 14th 2004, 3.00 pm. There we 10 participants of Round Table and 10 journalists.

2. Presentation on TV studio” PROMETEVS” 17th May, 2004. 8.30 am

Objectives:
1. To draw media attention to the Stockholm Convention entry in force organizing the dialogue with government
2. To assess Armenian government’s position on POPs Convention.

Agenda:

Opening of press conference
Highlight of the event
Elena Manvelyan – Head of AWHHE

POPs convention, introduction NIP, the analyze of problems due to POPs in Armenia
Anahit Alexandryan – National coordinator of NIP

Problems of agriculture due to pesticides using in Armenia
Garnik Petrosyan – Chief of department of Ministry of Agriculture

The tasks of Health Care in frame of Stockholm convention implementation
Sos Hovanesyan –Chief of department of Hygiene and Epidemiological inspectorate of Ministry of Health.

The risks of pesticides exposure on human health
Albert Mairapetyan –director of national Institute of Toxicology and Environmental Hygiene

Results of AWHHE activities around Stockholm convention on POPs
Lilik Simonyan – executive director of AWHHE

Relationship between Archus and Stockholm Conventions
Aida Iskhoyan – president of EPAC Environmental Public Advocacy Center

POPs Convention and its role and place in the process of sustainable development and millennium goals
Karine Danielyan – president of AHSD (association of human sustainable development)

Journalists: Arm Press (international news agency- Hasmik Gevorgian, Noyan-Tapan news international Agency- Sona Mashuryan, National Broadcast, TV central channel, Haj TV, A1+, TV Kentron, Hripsime Jebejyan-“Aravot”, Aghavni Eghiazaryan-“Hetaqnnohg lragroghneri nkerakcutjun”, Hasmik Bakunc “Ayb Fe”, Anahit Hajtayan “Hajastani Hanrapetutjun” Astrik Bedevyan “EPICENTRON”.

Overall evaluation & outstanding issue

The event organized by AWHHE on Global Day of Action14 th May attracted public attention to the problem of POPs, and to obligations that government has taken due to ratification of POPs Convention. People had a possibility to know about matter of Convention (12 chemicals) during discussion of Round Table. A lot of attention was given to pesticide issue and current situation in agriculture and Health Care. Participants were alarmed about uncontrolled and unsafe using of pesticides. It was mentioned that besides all existing problem there is prevalent conviction that agriculture could not exist without pesticides. So there is the necessity to inform and educate rural people to change their behavior. The problem of obsolete pesticides stockpile was touched as well. AWHHE presented the current situation (results of investigation) with burial of obsolete pesticides. A brief background on waste was presented and discussed. Actively was discussed the health care issue and effects of POPs on human health. Speaker from MOH informed that currently there is no the statistic data on pesticides poisoning cases though it does not mean that there is no problem of poisoning. There is a great risk of pesticide exposure in rural areas.
During round table flyers and posters were distributed, as well as AWHHE statement on GDA.
For IPEN Global Day of Action Tool Kit was translated in Armenian by AWHHE and distributed through participants.
Unfortunately nothing was told about PCB problem due to absence of representatives from industry and national coordinator of NIP(were invited). Though PCB issue is a question of great concern in Armenia.

In celebration of the Stockholm Convention’s entry in force the presentation of Head of AWHHE and executive director of AWHHE on 17th of May on TV second national channel was made. It was presented the background of POPs Convention and problems in country due to POPs. Explained the role of this treaty in protecting human health and the environment from POPs. The role of IPEN in POPs treaty was introduced. The video recording was sent to IPEN secretariat. Appearance on television had a feedback such as visiting of the other TV channel A1+ 17th May 6.30 pm to office of AWHHE and taking interview about POPs problem in Armenia in particular pesticides. AWHHE produced booklets on POPs, posters, flyers and distributed through environmental NGOs and in rural areas. This was done from May 5 to17th.
Press release about GDA was sent and printed to environmental networks national and regional such CENN as well as to international news agencies NOYAN TAPAN and Armenpress.