Initiative: Minamata convention on mercury
Health has been addressed in different parts of the convention, including convention objective of protection human health and environment from anthropogenic emission and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. The World Health Assembly has adopted resolution WHA67.R11 regarding public health impacts of exposure to mercury and mercury compounds: the role of WHO and ministries of public health in the implemention of the Minamata convention on mercury.

Activities: WHO has been participating in the Intergovernmental negotiating committees discussing the convention text.

In the region, we implemented a Spanish speaking workshop in Montevideo, Uruguay during October 7 and 8th, 2015 to share experiences and planning regarding health sector participation in the convention implementation. From this workshop, the Montevideo declaration requests the nomination and recognition of Minamata convention focal point from the health sector to strengthen multi sector collaboration. Panamá is the first country to have this position formalized.

Following up activities are related to the implementation of on line course at the Virtual Campus of the Pan American Health Organization to work on the capacity building within health sector to ensure health participation in the convention implementation.

Two countries in the Americas region are invited to participate in the global human biomonitoring project with United Nation Environment Program and WHO Europe.

Funds mobilization will allow additional support on the public health strategy for the national action plan for the artisanal small scale gold mining; replacement of products with mercury in use in health care; capacity building and other related activities.

Beneficiaries: Montevideo workshop and Virtual Campus on line course - Spanish speaking countries

Partnerships and Financing: Montevideo workshop - WHO German Natural Resources funds and PAHO funds
Virtual Campus Mercury courses - PAHO

Iniciative: Health in the Minamata convention on mercury
Health has been addressed in different parts of the convention, including convention objective of protection of human health and environment from anthropogenic emission and release of mercury and mercury compounds.

The World Health Assembly has adopted in 2014 the resolution WHA67.R11 regarding public health impacts of exposure to mercury and mercury compounds: the role of WHO and ministries of public health in the implementation of the Minamata convention on mercury.

Activities: WHO headquarters participation in the Intergovernmental negotiating committee meetings;

Health sector in the Minamata convention workshop held in Montevideo, Uruguay, during October 7th and 8th, 2015;

On line training course preparation at the PAHO Virtual Campus on health in the Minamata convention;

Regional participation at the WHO/UNEP global project on human biomonitoring on mercury;

Funding mobilization.

Beneficiaries: countries in the region

Partnership and financing: WHO headquarters and PAHO