MoH reviewing Lead-related laws as 3 million children exposed in Kenya

As the world marks the 12th International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action, the Ministry of Health has announced its plan to combat Lead emissions in the country.

Speaking at the University of Nairobi (UoN) on Wednesday, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni stated that the numbers are on an alarming rise, affecting the intellectual capabilities of most children.

“The estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that lead poisoning accounts to 0.6% of the global burden of disease and contributes to approximately 600,000 cases of intellectual disabilities in children annually,” said PS Muthoni.

“We will finalize and validate and disseminate the national policy on sound management of chemicals, lead poisoning prevention advocacy, legislation compliance and enforcement in partnership with all of you as our key stakeholders and multisectoral committee.”

In this year's commemoration, Kenya's Ministry of Health is reviewing laws related to hazardous chemicals, including lead.

Leading paint manufacturer DuraCoat, in collaboration with the Ministry, seeks to come up with a policy direction on how to combat the effects of lead poisoning in the country.

General Manager at Basco Paints Aseem Doshi said that they are making significant strides in combating lead poisoning through their paint.

 “We converted the entire Duracoat and Duracoat Royal water-based decorative products to low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) way back in 2011. We continue to ensure that we provide paints that are environmentally friendly and good for our customers,” he said.

In response to this impending health crisis, the government has put in place a number of interventions that include tightening the law, to safeguard employees working in lead-producing factories from the effects.

A report done by UNICEF in 2020 says that approximately 3 million children are exposed to lead poisoning which significantly impacts their learning capabilities.

The survey shows that children living near factories that pollute the air are at a higher risk of contracting health complications.

Globally, 1 in 2 children is bearing the brunt of lead exposure, contributing to about 1 million deaths annually.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also notes that around 800 million children in developing countries, including Kenya, suffer from lead poisoning, which can lead to health issues such as miscarriage in pregnant women and the birth of children with lower IQs.