A round table on children's health was held in Azerbaijan

A round table devoted to the analysis of the state of children's environmental health in our country was organized by the representative office of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Azerbaijan." 

The event was attended by the Ministry of Health, the Health Committee of the Milli Majlis, the State Agency for Compulsory Health Insurance, the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB), the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as representatives from the State Customs Committee. 

Alex Heikens, the head of UNICEF's Azerbaijan representative office, stated in his greeting remarks that climate change, its impact on children, and issues related to environmental health are one of the priority areas of the organization's activities. According to him, a group of national experts conducted a comprehensive environmental assessment of children's environmental health in our country from March to June 2023, with the cooperation of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Health. 'A roundtable discussion on current problems was held to discuss the assessment's findings, including potential solutions,' he added. 

Ilgar Gasimov, the deputy health minister, stressed during his remarks at the event that the round table focused on a crucial issue. He claimed that the Ministry of Health is an advocate and promoter of a practical approach to citizens' health since it is the primary executive entity responsible for developing health policy. One of the main goals of public health, according to the Deputy Minister, is the evaluation of population health. I. Gasimov also discussed how environmental risks to human health can have both direct and indirect consequences. 

Several speakers participated in the round table, including Shahla Balayeva, head of the Azerbaijan Medical University (AMU) Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Occupational Health; a specialist-expert from the Ministry of Health; Chairman of the Azerbaijan Pediatric Society, Erkin Rahimov; Associate Professor of the AMU Department of Internal Medicine, Ismayil Efendiyev; Chairman of the Association of Toxicologists of Azerbaijan, and others. 

"The findings of the analyses (including those of the primary environmental issues, the health care system, the exposure of children to environmental risks, air pollution, etc.) were presented during the event, and there were debates about them as well.