Attitude change; the ultimate course in environmental management

Ask any Kenyan primary school graduate proceeding to high school about the career he/she is intending to pursue. Most probably the response will be “a doctor” to mean a medical practitioner. Ask an adult Kenyan what he/she knows about environment and do not be surprised to hear disjointed phrases like Waangari Maathai, tree planting and probably NEMA (National Environmental Management Authority). Never mind, the full meaning of NEMA many not be known by most people. Worse still, this problem extends to the individuals considered as highly educated but in a different way. To serve as an illustration, let me share a comment made by one of my friends, who is currently pursuing Ph.D in one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Let not the fact that he had served as a lecturer in one of the Kenya’s universities worry you. “I do not like these people so called NEMA.” When I asked why, “Because they are increasing poverty in Kenya by hindering development projects.”

From the presented level of environmental awareness among majority of Kenyans, it becomes a tall order for the environmental management activities to succeed. Perhaps this is why a decade has passed since the government started a serious work on the natural resources management but with very little success. Unfortunately, which ever reason we would like to offer as an excuse, the adverse effects are continuing. Taking cognisance that no arguments for the environment are more persuasive than those made from the perspective of human health, I wish to point out some of the known environmental impacts on our health but normally given very little attention. The environment in which we find ourselves becomes the most determinant of our health conditions. Therefore, protection of the environment and preservation of ecosystems are, in public health terms, the most fundamental steps in preventing human illness (Chivian et al., 1993). All of us do make decisions at various levels and hence have a responsibility in managing the environment. Examples of such decisions range from where to dump a piece of your candy wrapper to siting a factory premise among others. The level of importance we assign to environmental issues can be easily depicted in our actions. Just to pick on one aspect, have you ever wondered how much environmental consideration we normally incorporate when building residential houses, especially those occupied by the citizens categorized as middle and low income earners?

Chivian et al., (1993) observes that the resulting high levels of air pollution (including indoor air pollution) are considered by experts to explain the high mortality rates for acute respiratory disease (about 4 million per year) in children under the age of 5 in many developing countries. Most of the houses especially in the rural areas have served as kitchens, sitting rooms and bedrooms. In these homes, firewood has remained the main source of energy therefore, exposing many people to air which is polluted by smoke particles. Women and children have been the main victims given their stereotyped gender roles. In some cases, you will find babies of below one year in these smoke filled houses. As adapted from H.A. Boushey and D. Sheppard, “Air pollution,” in textbook of Respiratory Medicine, ed. J.F Murray and J.A Nadel (Saunders, 1998) and presented by Chivian et al., (1993), some of the health effects from specific pollutants are as outlined. Sulphur oxides particulates from kerosene stoves, oil refineries, smelters, coal and power plants cause broncho-constriction, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive and lung disease. Carbon monoxide from motor vehicle emissions and fossil fuel burning cause asphyxia leading to heart and nervous system damage and ultimately death. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from diesel exhaust, cigarette smoke and stove smoke have a potential of causing lung cancer. Asbestos from asbestos mines and mills, insulation and building materials cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Finally, pollen, animal dander and house dust cause asthma and rhinitis.

Therefore, we must start thinking critically and incorporate environmental concerns in all that we do. It no longer matters which profession one is pursuing because that will not offer immunity to our health. The first step is to change our attitude and start seeking for information regarding sound environmental management practices. At the same time, we must stop considering efforts by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) as steps meant to frustrate development projects but as those geared towards achieving sustainable development. Efforts in environmental education need to be stepped up both in learning institutions and in the public domain. Practically, all have a role to play in this.

References
Chivian E., McCally M., Hu H., and Haines A (1993), Critical condition; human health and the environment. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. London, England.