The Minister of Health, Mohammad-Reza Zafarkandi, emphasized that environmental health protection plays a key role in preventing dangers and safeguarding public health. He noted that solving environmental health challenges requires decisions based on scientific data, strengthening intersectoral cooperation, and utilizing the country's scientific capabilities.
According to Zafarkandi, environmental health protection is today an integral part of the healthcare system and a critically important investment in the country's future. These statements were made on the occasion of World Environment Day, which is observed annually on September 26th.
He added that maintaining water and food safety, waste management and air quality, improving hygiene in public places, combating climate change threats, as well as monitoring occupational and environmental health risks, play a decisive role in shaping healthy, safe, and sustainable communities.
Among the problems facing the country are air pollution, water scarcity, sand and dust storms, climate change, urban and medical waste management, contamination of water and soil resources, and the consequences of rapid urbanization.
The Ministry of Health, with the support of environmental health experts, is working on creating monitoring and surveillance systems, improving water and food safety, strengthening specialized laboratories, implementing modern technologies, increasing preparedness for environmental threats, and implementing preventive programs.
Furthermore, the official representative mentioned that expanding public education and raising health awareness levels are the ministry's main policy directions, as protecting environmental health is virtually impossible without informed public participation and cooperation with other executive bodies such as municipalities, industrial enterprises, scientific centers, media, and non-governmental organizations.
Stressing that a healthier and more sustainable future depends on the synergy of science, social responsibility, and public participation in environmental preservation, he continued his remarks.
World Environment Day aims to raise awareness about environmental health issues and promote measures to improve and protect the environment for the well-being of all living beings. This year's theme, 'Stand together with science to protect communities,' directly aligns with the World Health Organization's narrative on evidence-based decision-making and highlights the role of environmental health specialists as public health scientists who translate research into policy, regulation, and community protection.
Key messages of the day include: environmental health practice is an evidence-based public health action; Science protects communities from environmental risks; Environmental health specialists are the link between science and practical implementation.
The Ministry of Health is developing a national document on health and climate change to mitigate the impacts of climate change on public health and create a climate-resilient healthcare system. According to IRNA, the draft of this document was presented and edited by experts and professors from medical universities in a working group on reducing environmental health threats.
This document aims to strengthen intersectoral interaction to protect public health, prevent and reduce the adverse effects of climate change, and promote the resilience of the healthcare system in the face of natural hazards. Climate resilience of healthcare systems is defined by their ability to forecast, prevent, respond to, cope with, and recover from adverse conditions and climate stresses.
The document includes five goals, 24 strategies, and 106 action plans, establishing a framework for coordinated planning and implementation by various agencies to address climate change-related health issues. After approval, it will be presented to the Supreme Council for Health and Food Security.