Healthy Environments for Children Alliance (HECA) - Global
Launched in 2002, the Healthy Environments for Children Alliance (HECA) is a global effort to create healthier environments for children. HECA will catalyse coordinated action to tackle major environment- and poverty-related risks to children's health through inclusive, participatory, and action-oriented efforts within local communities and at national and global levels. Strategies will include providing knowledge, increasing political will, mobilising resources, and catalysing action.
Communication Strategies
HECA is made up of a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in healthy environments for children (policy-makers and decision-makers, national and local governments, mayors, schools, NGOs, civil society groups, health/social workers, the private sector, and others). Criteria for membership are currently being developed.
HECA uses advocacy and information sharing in an effort to raise awareness, and then to inform and influence policy related to effective measures for protecting and promoting healthy environments for children. Efforts are made to create networks through information and advocacy designed to create healthy settings in the home (e.g., safe, adequate water supply sanitation, and food preparation), at school (e.g., protection from violence, noise, traffic, and industry), and in communities (e.g., clean air and smoke-free public spaces).
Specifically, advocacy materials include the "Framework for Action" (a document that sets out the principles, functions, structure, and expected achievements of HECA); a brochure, tool kit, sticker, and measuring tape/poster for World Health Day 2003, which was dedicated to healthy environments for children; HECANET email updates; a factsheet, media advisory and media backgrounder, and the HECA Newsletter (a monthly publication to begin circulation in late 2003).
A key element in the work of the alliance will be country- and community-level support. Members of the Alliance will work together to encourage action on the part of many sectors (including health, environment, education, housing,agriculture, energy, water, local government, and social protection sectors). Alliance partners will work together to facilitate the initiation of national and local movements, helping build national and local capacities to create and maintain healthy environments for children. Pilot projects will be a strategy for testing different ways in which risks to children's health can be addressed.
HECA uses advocacy and information sharing in an effort to raise awareness, and then to inform and influence policy related to effective measures for protecting and promoting healthy environments for children. Efforts are made to create networks through information and advocacy designed to create healthy settings in the home (e.g., safe, adequate water supply sanitation, and food preparation), at school (e.g., protection from violence, noise, traffic, and industry), and in communities (e.g., clean air and smoke-free public spaces).
Specifically, advocacy materials include the "Framework for Action" (a document that sets out the principles, functions, structure, and expected achievements of HECA); a brochure, tool kit, sticker, and measuring tape/poster for World Health Day 2003, which was dedicated to healthy environments for children; HECANET email updates; a factsheet, media advisory and media backgrounder, and the HECA Newsletter (a monthly publication to begin circulation in late 2003).
A key element in the work of the alliance will be country- and community-level support. Members of the Alliance will work together to encourage action on the part of many sectors (including health, environment, education, housing,agriculture, energy, water, local government, and social protection sectors). Alliance partners will work together to facilitate the initiation of national and local movements, helping build national and local capacities to create and maintain healthy environments for children. Pilot projects will be a strategy for testing different ways in which risks to children's health can be addressed.
Development Issues
Health, Children, Environment, Economic Development.
Key Points
HECA was launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (26 August-4 September 2002, Johannesburg, South Africa). It is a Type-II partnership and realisation of the health and environment components of the Millennium Development Goals (like the goal to reduce child mortality and the goal to ensure environmental sustainability).
According to materials available on the HECA page on the WHO site, more than 5 million children die each year from environment-related diseases and conditions such as diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses, malaria, and unintentional injuries. Again according to WHO statistics, millions more children are debilitated by these diseases or live with chronic conditions linked to their environment, ranging from allergies to mental and physical disability.
According to materials available on the HECA page on the WHO site, more than 5 million children die each year from environment-related diseases and conditions such as diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses, malaria, and unintentional injuries. Again according to WHO statistics, millions more children are debilitated by these diseases or live with chronic conditions linked to their environment, ranging from allergies to mental and physical disability.
Sources
- Log in to post comments