Implementation of the National Environmental Health Programme in Mongolia

1. Ministerial Regional Forum on Environment and Health, 8-9 August 2007, Bangkok, Thailand Implementation of the National Environmental Health Programme in Mongolia Dr. N.Saijaa, D.Sc., Director of Environmental Health Research Center, Public Health Institute Mr. G.Enkhee,Director, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Nature and Environment Dr.Sh.Enkhtsetseg, PhD, Programme Officer, WHO/MOG

2. MONGOLIA Location:Between Russia and China Capital City:Ulaanbaatar Language:Mongolian

3. Development of NEHP • State Public Health Policy. • “Health and Environment” High level Joint meetings held in Manila, 2004, 2005: • Technical working group to develop NEHP was established in 2005. • The First National Forum on “Health and Environment” jointly organized by MOH and MNE in August 2005. • Draft NEHP was discussed at the Health Minister’s Counsil meetings in 2005 • The National Environmental Health Programme endorsed by the Government Resolution #245 in December 2005.

4. Objectives: • Advance the system of control, surveillance, and improve the legal environment with regard to environmental health; • Enhance effectiveness of activities to analyze, evaluate, and control negative effects from environment to human health; • Take sequential measures to ensure ecological balance by reducing environmental pollution and to reduce illnesses caused by environmental negative factors; • Improve health education by promoting appropriate awareness, attitude and behavior on environmental health among population.

5. Duration and stages of implementation of NEHP • The NEHP is planned to be implemented to 2015. • Stages: • First stage: 2006-2010 • Second stage: 2010-2015

6. Management of the Programme • Ensure an overall coordination of NEHP implementation; • - Take necessary action to reflect resources in government budget of every year and focus donor’s aids for implementation of the NP National level: National Public Health Counsil, chaired by the Prime Minister Multisectoral working group for NEHP implementation -Develop subprogramme on EH and manage its implementation; - Report programme implementation to the National Public Health Council. Local level: Provincial Public Health Council led by a Province or Capital City Governor

7. Financial sources • Government and local budgets • Aids of donor countries, UN and international organizations • Local and foreign investments, loans • Aids and donations gathered by the initiatives of governmental and nongovernmental organizations, companies and citizens • Other sources

8. Achievements in implementation of NEHP Water, sanitation and waste management • Water Supply Master Plan for Ulaanbaatar city, 2006 • Waste Management Master plan project, Ulaanbaatar City Government and JICA. • Revision of the national drinking water quality standard based on WHO DWQG III, 2005, MOH. • Drinking water quality and water-borne disease survey, MOH, WHO, 2005.

9. Achievements in implementation of NEHP Water, sanitation and waste management • Led by the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development: • National programme on Improvement of Sanitation Facilities, Government decree #246 Oct 2006, • Second project on Integrated development of basic urban services in provincial towns of Mongolia, MCUD and ADB.

10. Achievements in implementation of NEHP Water and Sanitation • New technology installed in 8 soums of Gobi desert region to reduce mineralization of water. • Rural hospital Water, Sanination and Hygiene project (MOH, WHO, USAID, AGFUND) • Piloting in 2 soums and expansion to other rural health facilities.

11. Achievements in implementation of NEHP Air pollution - Parliament resolution of 2007 to decrease air pollution; • Development of the Master plan for reducing air pollution of Ulaanbaatar city is completed and will be submitted to the Parliament of Mongolia for approval. • The law on Payment for polluting the air is under development. • National Standard on Air quality is being updated based on WHO air quality guidelines.

12. Achievements in implementation of NEHP Air pollution • Survey on Environmental lead pollution and its health impact, 2006, MOH & WHO • Risk reduction interventions for indoor air quality project, MOH & WHO • Inventory of sources of air pollution in the Capital city, MNE.

13. HEALTH SECTOR MASTER PLAN and NEHP • HSMP (2006-2015) was approved by a Government Resolution # 72 in 2005. • The HSMP Implementation Framework was endorsed in February 2007 by the resolution #43 of Health Minister. • Implementation of NEHP is essential part. • Improvement of medical waste management and disposal of expired drugs considered as an issue for high priority for resource allocation and international support.

14. Achievements in implementation of NEHP • National workshop on Strengthening of implementation NEHP, December 2006, MOH and MNE • Mayors of provincial cities • Expansion of healthy cities and healthy settings initiatives • NEHP implementation report was discussed at the Government Cabinet meeting in May 2007. • Recommended allocation of funds for NEHP from the annual state budget.

15. Challenges • Create a sustainable funding mechanism for implementation of NEHP, increase government funding; • Capacity building for health impact assessment of environmental hazards; • Strengthen chemical safety management and poisoning surveillance; • Adaptation to the global climate change. • Monitoring & evaluation, effective intersectoral collaboration and coordination.

16. Thank you