Asian Center for Environmental Health
The Asian Center for Environmental Health is opening a pathway to work closely with environment. This is a new initiative of building a network among the countries of Asia-Pacific in environmental issues.
The planned actions are:
- Building a network among the countries of Asia-Pacific and including more countries/regions with time.
- Addressing both long-term and short-term plans for better execution and implementation.
- Conducting research in different area of environment and toxicants.
- Providing environmental education and awareness.
- Working as a regulatory and monitoring body for Asia-Pacific
Major activities of the Asian Center for Environmental Health includes:
- Policies and programs to reduce and eliminate toxins and others substances cased for environmental degradation and pollution-related hazards to children's health and the public health.
- Message development and communication strategies to show governments and the public why our future civilization depends on reducing and eliminating toxins and other environmental hazards.
- Promote and implement project for mercury-free dentistry in Asia and the Pacific.
- Gain support for ratification of the "Minamata Convention on Mercury", and its implementation, and proper funding.
- Expertise to, and cooperation with, governments in Asia and the Pacific.
- Assistance to NGOs who share similar goals.
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Collaboration of Asian Center for Environmental Health and CEPHED:
From its establishment, Asian Center for Environmental Health has been actively collaborating with regional countries for the mercury free dentistry. For the achievement of mercury free dentistry, CEPHED and Asian Center for Environmental Health marched together and organized a program in Kathmandu with the support of various other government, private as well as international agencies.
On 26th-27th May 2014, CEPHED organized a National Conference on MERCURY FREE DENTISTRY, Regulatory Framework, Phase out Plan and Inclusion of Mercury Alternatives in Curriculum with support from Department of Health Services, Nepal Dental Association, WAMFD and Asian Center for Environmental Health.
Major 5 point drawn from the group discussion and sectoral commitments made as important point for Kathmandu Declaration for Mercury Free Dentistry which are as follows:
- Comprehensive regulatory frameworks (Acts and Regulation) to promote mercury free health care services and mercury free dentistry in Nepal by 2015/2016
- General Practitioners and Professionals Associations have agreed to stop using mercury amalgam in children and pregnant women by 2017 and phase-out use of mercury amalgam from dentistry by 2018.
- Academic University and Institutions have agreed to revised and fully implement the dental curriculum by 2019.
- Issues of awareness raising, development of waste management facilities and encourage of insurance policy and tax exemption for mercury free alternatives.
- Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury as soon as possible.