The disturbing fact that two-thirds of preventable !llnesses and d3aths caused by environmental hazards in Zimbabwe affect children under the age of five highlights the need for urgent action to address the risks that young children face from their surroundings.
Environmental hazards can include waterborne dis3ases, air pollution, hazardous waste, and climate change-related disasters, among others. These thr3ats have devastating consequences for the health and wellbeing of young children, who are vulnerable to environmental risks due to their developing immune systems and bodies.
There is an urgent need to prioritize the protection of our children’s future in the face of a rapidly changing environment.
Climate change is already impacting the lives of millions of children worldwide, with devastating consequences for their health, food security, and access to education. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events, for example, threaten to exacerbate water shortages, destroy agricultural land, and put vulnerable communities at risk.
The statistics provided by UNICEF about preventable !llnesses and d3aths caused by environmental hazards among children under five are truly concerning, and they underscore the need for immediate action to safeguard these vulnerable members of society.
SOURCE: NEWSREPORTZIM.COM
