Cape Verde has lowest rate of illnesses caused by poor environmental conditions among Portuguese-language African countries
15-06-07

Among Africa’s lusophone countries, Cape Verde is the best-ranked in a World Health Organization report on illnesses caused by poor environmental conditions.

The study on “The Environmental Burden of Illnesses” is the first document elaborated by the WHO in which the impact of environmental problems is outlined for each individual country. According to the United Nations body, environmental problems cause some 13 million deaths a year all over the world.

Cape Verde stands out, in the report, for presenting practically no incidence of environmentally-caused illnesses, with only several cases of malaria. This fact, according to the report, gives Cape Verde one of the best ratings in the world in terms of the relationship between malaria and lung cancer and environmental conditions.

In Cape Verde, 23% of all illnesses are related to environmental factors. The main problems include diarrhea, accidental injuries and cardiovascular diseases.

The environmental factors considered in the WHO study include pollution, ultraviolet radiation, sound pollution, agricultural methods, alterations in climate and ecosystems, construction methods and behaviors.

The same study indicates that Angola presents a critical situation, with some 116,000 people dying every year due to environmentally-related problems (37% of all deaths recorded annually in the country).

The WHO study shows that “13 million deaths could be avoided annually with the improvement of environmental conditions.” “In some countries, more than a third of the burden of illnesses could be avoided,” cites Portuguese news agency Lusa.

The lack of quality water, including deficient sewage and hygiene, in addition to pollution, especially that due to the use of fossil fuels for cooking, was responsible for more than 10% of all deaths in 23 different countries.

The main victims are children under five, who represent 74% of all victims, due to diarrhea and respiratory infections.

Poor countries lose some 20 times more years of healthy life per person than do rich ones, according to WHO statistics.

Despite the results, the study indicates that “no country is immune to environmental impacts on health; even in countries with better environmental conditions, data indicate that a sixth of the illness burden could be avoided and that effective environmental interventions could significantly reduce cardiovascular illnesses and injuries caused by traffic accidents.”

Asemana