About the Conference

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with the Government of Gabon, organized the First Interministerial Conference for Health and Environment in Africa. The conference took place in Libreville, Gabon from 26 to 29 August 2008.

The overall objective of the conference was to secure political commitment for catalyzing the policy, institutional and investment changes required to reduce environmental threats to health, in support of sustainable development. The primary expected outcome was that awareness amongst ministers of health and ministers of environment would be enhanced in regards to their understanding of sectoral policies, strategies and programmes.