International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
October 20-26, 2024
Each year, the World Health Organization coordinates International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week to raise awareness about the health impacts of lead poisoning and to highlight solutions to this global challenge. The focus of this year’s campaign “Bright Futures begin Lead Free” reminds governments, civil society organizations, health partners, industry and others of the unacceptable risks of lead exposure and the need for action to protect children’s health.
Pure Earth is proud to participate in International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week annually, raising awareness and showcasing the practical, scalable solutions we’ve developed through our Global Lead Program. Scroll down to explore our 2024 events.
Raising Awareness on Lead through Rallies, Human Chains, and Discussion Sessions
Oct. 20-26, Bangladesh
YouthNet Global and Pure Earth Bangladesh are jointly organizing rallies, human chains, and discussion sessions in 34 districts with support from UNICEF. The areas include Dhaka, Barishal, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Bandarban, Narayanganj and many others.
These events will be conducted in partnership with local authorities, including the Department of Environment (DoE), UN agencies, NGOs, youth groups, local leaders, religious leaders, social workers, the local media (press clubs), community representatives, and other stakeholders.
Seminar on Multisectoral Approach to Build A Lead-Free Future
Oct. 23, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Pure Earth Bangladesh and North South University (NSU) are jointly organizing an interactive seminar titled “Multisectoral Approach to Build A Lead-Free Future” on October 23, at the NSU auditorium. This initiative is financially supported by the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) of the French government under the project “Building Capacity to Reduce Childhood Lead Poisoning in Bangladesh”.
This seminar will bring together students, public health and environmental academicians, governments, environmental activists, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the impact of lead on children and take unified actions for solution.
Md. Ziaul Haque, Director of Air Quality Monitoring, Department of Environment will be present as a Special Guest at the event. The seminar will be chaired by Dipak Kumar Mitra, Professor and Dean, School of Health and Life Sciences, North South University.
Members and volunteers of NSU Earth Club, and Public Health and Science Club are providing support to organize the event fruitfully by ensuring everyone’s participation and social media engagement.
2024 Events
LEADCON 2024
Oct 23, 2024 – New Delhi, India
The Department of Biochemistry, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital New Delhi, in collaboration with Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research is organizing a one day conference ‘LEADCON 2024’ on 23rd October, 2024.
This conference, through talks and panel discussions, aims to bring together on a common platform, the stakeholders and policy makers dedicated to the prevention of lead toxicity. Our Pure Earth India Director of Advocacy and Comms Mr. Sandeep Dahiya will be speaking on the topic of “CURRENT MEASURES ADDRESSING LEAD EXPOSURE AND TOXICITY”.
To register send your request to – Dr Seema Bhargava, Email – [email protected]
Briefing on the Progress of Blood Lead Level Surveillance in 5 Countries
Oct 24, 2024 – Virtual
Join Pure Earth and Vital Strategies during International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week for a Briefing on the Progress of Blood Lead Level Surveillance in 5 Countries.
This webinar will highlight the progress made in strengthening national healthcare systems in Colombia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Maharashtra, India, and Peru to prevent, identify, and treat lead poisoning. Supported by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., the Strengthening Health Systems to Reduce Lead Exposure project is focused on expanding blood lead level surveillance, which is crucial to understanding the prevalence and severity of childhood lead exposure in these 5 countries.
The conversation will feature project leaders discussing key progress in establishing blood lead level surveillance, collaborations with government partners, and the future impact of the data collected on national policies to combat lead exposure.
Educación y prevención: el rol de la academia en el abordaje de la exposición al plomo
Oct 24, 2024 – Virtual
¡Te invitamos al conversatorio virtual “Educación y prevención: el rol de la academia en el abordaje de la exposición al plomo”! En este evento contaremos con la participación de tres destacados académicos de Colombia, quienes compartirán sus conocimientos y experiencias sobre cómo la academia está contribuyendo a enfrentar la exposición al plomo en el país, un grave problema de salud pública.
Este espacio busca promover un diálogo sobre los enfoques actuales de investigación, prevención y mitigación de la exposición al plomo en Colombia. Se explorarán los esfuerzos académicos para educar, concientizar y generar cambios en las políticas públicas, con el objetivo de reducir los riesgos para la salud en las comunidades más afectadas.
Presentado por Lizeth Olaya, directora Pure Earth Colombia, y moderado por Daniela Alonso, Coordinadora Proyectos de Salud de Pure Earth, y Jésica Rodríguez, consultora en Salud Ambiental de Vital Strategies.
ILPPW 2023
Pure Earth held the virtual global launch of Strengthening Health Systems to Reduce Lead Exposure during International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2023. Program leaders in the five participating countries – Colombia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Maharashtra, India, and Peru – discussed this collaboration with ministries of health to strengthen each country’s national healthcare system to better prevent, identify, and treat lead poisoning.
Thank you to our panelists, who included:
- Dr. Yi Lu, Director, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Vital Strategies
- Dr. Nitin Ambadekar, Additional Director of Health Services (RCH), State Family Welfare Bureau, Pune Maharashtra, India
- Lizeth Olaya, Country Director, Pure Earth Colombia
- Indira Zhakipova, Director, Ecois Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Budi Susilorini, Director, Pure Earth Indonesia Foundation
- Rodrigo Velarde, Country Director, Pure Earth Perú
The webinar was moderated by Alicia Ogawa, Pure Earth Board Member and included a brief video overview followed by a panel discussion, and audience Q&A.
ILPPW 2022
One in 36 Million
How severe lead pollution is impacting the health and future of one family in Mirzapur, Bangladesh and how all stakeholders can be part of the solution
Watch a screening of Shaila’s Story, a portrait of a mother raising a child with brain damage as a result of lead poisoning from an informal battery recycling operation near her home in Mirzapur, Bangladesh.
Learn how lead pollution from the common practice of substandard lead-acid battery recycling damages the cognitive development of children, and how government agencies and industry actors can work to prevent future lead exposure, enabling children to reach their full potential.
Featuring a panel discussion with a range of expert speakers focused on the impact and replicability of our evidenced-based solutions, and an audience Q&A.
Panel participants include:
Rachael Kupka (moderator), Executive Director, GAHP
Siddika Sultana, Executive Director, ESDO
Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Lead and Project Coordinator, Environmental Interventions Unit, International Center for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b)
Dr. Howard Hu, Professor and the Flora L. Thornton Chair of the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Drew McCartor, Executive Director, Pure Earth
The Lead Rush
Lessons from the Thiaroye-sur-Mer Tragedy: Progress Towards Environmentally Sound Lead Recycling in Africa
Watch a screening of The Lead Rush, which follows the story of a community in Thiaroye-sur-Mer, Senegal, where 18 young children died in 2007-2008 as a result of informal battery recycling. Pure Earth and GAHP return to the village 13 years later to assess the sustainability of our environmental and health intervention.
Learn how through collaboration between government, the community, and industry, a formal lead smelter was created, and whether this can serve as a model for lead pollution interventions throughout Africa.
Featuring a panel discussion with a range of expert speakers focused on the impact and replicability of our evidenced-based solutions, and an audience Q&A.
Panel participants include:
Drew McCartor (moderator), Executive Director, Pure Earth
Terseer Ugbor, Executive Secretary, Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling
Dr. Sampson Atiemo, Executive Chairman, Mountain Research Institute
Brian Wilson, Consultant, International Lead Association
Solving a Toxic Mystery
How a collaborative effort got the lead out of Georgian spices
Watch a screening of Solving a Toxic Mystery: When a national survey in the Republic of Georgia discovered over 40% of children were lead poisoned, the race was on to identify and stop the source, which was discovered to be adulterated spices.
Learn how this widespread problem was solved in just 2 years and why this is relevant to having a safe global food supply chain.
Featuring a panel discussion with a range of expert speakers focused on the impact and replicability of our evidenced-based solutions, and an audience Q&A.
Panel participants include:
Drew McCartor, Executive Director, Pure Earth
Paromita Hore, Director, Environmental Exposure Assessment and Education, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Khatuna Akhalaia, Country Director, Pure Earth Georgia
Richard Fuller, Founder and President, Pure Earth