Lead is a threat to children’s health in Peru. Aware of this issue, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has signed an agreement with the organizations Pure Earth and Vital Strategies to strengthen surveillance and care for children under five years old who are exposed to this contaminant.
The agreement, signed by the Vice Minister of Public Health, Ricardo Peña; the Country Director of Pure Earth Peru, Rodrigo Velarde; and the Senior Vice President of Environmental, Climate, and Urban Health at Vital Strategies, Daniel E. Kass, marks a milestone in the fight against lead exposure in the country.
This agreement will strengthen the country’s strategy against lead exposure in key regions such as Tumbes, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Tacna, Pasco, Callao, and Lima. It will enhance active collaboration with Minsa’s technical offices, increase problem-solving capacity through the donation of equipment, train healthcare personnel in topics related to lead exposure, and identify potential sources of contamination.
Rodrigo Velarde, Country Director of Pure Earth Peru, highlighted the importance of this alliance: “It is a privilege to be part of this initiative, as we are committed to continuing to work hand in hand with national institutions, supporting capacity development and implementing sustainable measures to reduce lead exposure in our communities, with the goal of contributing to public health improvement and generating solid evidence for future public policies.”
From Vital Strategies, Dan Kass emphasized the agreement’s impact on child health: “By working closely with Minsa and Pure Earth, we can build sustainable solutions that improve the identification of children exposed to lead, the sources of lead in their homes and communities, and expand screening and treatment for children at the highest risk. We extend our gratitude to Peru for its national commitment to protecting its people from lead.”
Meanwhile, Drew McCartor, President of Pure Earth, underscored the global nature of this issue: “Our global commitment to preventing lead exposure has led us to work closely with governments and communities in various parts of the world. For Pure Earth, it is an honor to sign this agreement with the Ministry of Health of Peru, marking a key milestone in our collaboration to address lead contamination, which especially affects Peruvian children.”
This joint effort also involves key health sector entities in Peru, such as the National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention, and Disease Control; the Directorate of Environmental Health and Food Safety; and the Directorate for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, among others. Thanks to this collaboration, the protection of children is expected to be strengthened, laying the groundwork for more effective public policies in the fight against lead exposure.
