Government and UNICEF Launch Study on Environmental Toxins Affecting Children

The government and UNICEF Belize have embarked on a study to determine how children are affected by harmful chemicals in the environment. The research, dubbed, “Child Environmental Health Assessment in Belize”, will delve into how youth are impacted by toxins found in everyday items and the environment. It will be compiled by the Department of the Environment and focus on improving children’s health by addressing environmental risks. This week, to gather data, a workshop was held to discuss the study’s purpose among government agencies, academia, and the private sector. Health and Nutrition Specialist at UNICEF, Dr. Sola Oladeji, spoke to our newsroom about the venture and how it will benefit the nation’s youth. 

Dr. Oladeji added that while the report looked at various angles of the environment’s impact on youth, there is still much more data needed to get a holistic view of the issue. 

The study is expected to be finalized in three weeks.