2 nd South Asia Judicial Conference on Environmental Justice, Bhutan, 30-31 August, 2013 ENVIRONMENT, HUMAN HEALTH AND ITS ECONOMICS Pakistan’s Perspective.

2nd South Asia Judicial Conference on Environmental Justice, Bhutan, 30-31 August, 2013

ENVIRONMENT, HUMAN HEALTH AND ITS ECONOMICS

Pakistan’s Perspective

by

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah Lahore High Court Lahore, Pakistan

• The symbiotic relationship between

environmental and health is undisputed.

2nd South Asia Judicial Conference on Environmental Justice, Taj Tashi Hotel, Thimpu, Bhutan, 30-31 August, 2013

The World Health Organization (WHO) has

estimated that thirteen million deaths annually

are attributable to preventable environmental

causes.


The report also estimates that:

• 24% of the global disease burden (healthy

life years lost) and 23% of all deaths

(premature mortality) are attributable to

environmental factors.

• the environmental burden of diseases being

15 times higher in developing countries than

in developed countries


ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN

PAKISTAN


1. Hepatitis

• Hepatitis "B" and "C" have emerged as major

Public Health Problems in Pakistan.

• Every 13th Pakistani is potentially

infected with either Hepatitis B or C.

• According to estimates, there are 6 to 7

million infections of Hepatitis "B" and "C”


Hepatitis (Contd…)

It is estimated that about 15 million people

somehow harbor hepatitis viruses in their

bodies.


2. Floods

In August 2010, Pakistan experienced floods that

affected 20 million people in 78 districts, killed

1800, damaged or destroyed about 2 million

homes, 514 health facilities and inundated a

land mass the size of England.


Floods (Contd…)

Between August and September 2010, 6.2

million consultations for gastroenteritis,

respiratory infections, malaria and

dermatologic conditions were reported to WHO

from 50 of 64 affected districts.


Floods (Contd…)

Using surveillance data from flood-affected

districts, WHO reported mounting cases of

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, dengue

fever, cholera, falciparum malaria, measles and

polio.


3. Dengue Fever

Dengue is a widespread mosquito-borne

infection in human beings.

Symptomatic dengue virus infections can

present with a wide range of clinical

manifestations, from a mild febrile illness to a

life-threatening shock syndrome.


Dengue Fever (Contd…)

The cases of Dengue fever increased

dramatically since the 1970s and continues to

become more prevalent. This disease is believed

to be due to a combination of urbanization,

poor sanitation, population growth, increased

international travel, and global warming


4. Unsafe Drinking Water / Poor sanitation

Due to scarcity of drinking water as well as its

being contaminated abdominal pain, diarrhea,

and other gastro-intestinal diseases are being

promoted.


Green Bench at Lahore is currently dealing

with :

River Ravi case- contamination of fresh water

resource

Urban Water Supply /Sanitation case

Air pollution

Land use /urbanization


Dialogue:

Environmental Health vs Public Health System


RETHINKING THE SCOPE OF

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE


• Constitutional ‘right to life’ has already been

interpreted to mean “a cleaner and a

healthier life”

• It is now time to include “right to human

health” as a fundamental right or as an

integral part of right to life or the proposed

right to a clean and healthy environment.


“Enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of

health is one of the fundamental right of every

human being” – WHO’s Declaration


While environmental cases look into problems of

unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, over

crowed cities and unregulated land use, they

have so far not estimated health loss associated

with these environmental issues.

Health loss must be assessed and health

treatment be provided.


• Court alongside the environmental issue (e.g.,

polluting industry, poor sanitation by the local

authority or unclean drinking water supply)

must map the adverse environmental impact

on the health of the people in the area.


It is the responsibility of the State to maintain

safe and healthy environment. Failure of

environmental governance and the consequent

loss of human health is the responsibility of the

State hence it must be compensated.


• Building on the PRINCIPLE OF POLLUTER PAYS

- the concerned polluter (including the State)

are responsible to compensate in the shape

of providing healthcare till human health is

restored in the area.


This is closely connected with the assessment of

“economic cost of loss associated with human

health and the consequent cost of health care to

be provided.”


The judicialization of human health and health

care is essential and an inseparable part of

environmental dispute resolution.


Environmental Justice has to include in its ambit

the right to human health, health care and the

economics of an appropriate remedy.


Thank You 2nd South Asia Judicial Conference on Environmental Justice, Taj Tashi Hotel, Thimpu, Bhutan, 30-31 August, 2013

2 nd South Asia Judicial Conference on Environmental Justice, Bhutan, 30-31 August, 2013 ENVIRONMENT, HUMAN HEALTH AND ITS ECONOMICS Pakistan’s Perspective.

Documents

environmental justice

taj tashi hotel

environmental factors

environmental health

pakistan slide

hepatitis hepatitis

hepatitis contd

human health