CONFERENCE ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT AT UN HEADQUARTERS, 22-23 APRIL
Press Release
CONFERENCE ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT AT UN HEADQUARTERS, 22-23 APRIL
19990420 The Eighth International Conference on Health and Environment: Global Partners for Global Solutions will be held at United Nations Headquarters on Thursday and Friday, 22 and 23 April. This year's programme will focus on the environmental trends adversely affecting human health in the new millennium and on the specific impacts of environmental degradation on different age groups, especially older persons and youth. Presenters will also discuss the remedial programmes around the world which are restoring degraded environments and the health of affected people.The annual conference is organized by World Information Transfer (WIT), a non-governmental organization which is concerned with the impact of environmental degradation on human health. This year, it is co-sponsored by the Department of Public Information (DPI).
Over 25 International experts from North Africa, Latin America, Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America will present papers during the two-day event. Some of the subjects that will be discussed include health in developing countries in the 21st century, environmental factors affecting the health of workers, the genetic effects of nuclear fallout, melanoma and climate change, tourism and sexually transmitted diseases and planning a sustainable community.
Shigenobu Nagataki, Director of the Hiroshima Radiation Effects Research Foundation, will open the substantive presentations on Thursday morning with a paper entitled "A New Model of Epidemiological Research". The closing address on Friday will feature a talk by Vamik Volkan, Director of the Center for the Study of the Mind at the University of Virginia Medical School entitled "Beyond Individual Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Societies Ravaged by Ethnic Conflict." Karam Karam, Minister of Health of Lebanon, will speak on the subject of health of the ageing population in the developing world.
Over the last seven years, the International Conference on Health and the Environment has established itself as one of the regular events at the United Nations, where physicians, scientists and diplomatic experts share original material and information with their peers, leaders of non-governmental organizations and medical and science students. The Conference will be chaired by Christine R. Durbak, the Chair of World Information Transfer. Bernard D. Goldstein, Director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of New Jersey, and Farouk Malawi, WIT Regional Director for the Middle East, will serve as co-chairs.
For further information, contact Lilli Schindler, NGO Section of DPI, at 212-963-1361, or World Information Transfer at 212-686-1996
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