Health and Environment Mix Together By Ike Seneres
Sunday, September 07, 2008 12:44:34 PM

Government agencies seldom coordinate with each other in working towards the convergence of their policies and programs. This is true in the case of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) as it is true in many other Departments. For sure, there are many potential policy and program areas where they could work together, if only they could put their acts together.

To cite an example, there is no doubt that dirty and polluted rivers pose a threat to the health to the health of everyone, not only to those who live along the riverbanks. Using this as an example, it is very well within the authority of the DOH to sanction the polluters of rivers for health reasons, aside from the sanctions that the DENR could impose upon them.

Citing a case in history, the Americans convicted Al Capone for tax evasion, because they could not gather enough evidence to convict him for his other crimes. Without going around the bush, I say that murdering a river is a crime and if we could not get the criminals for environment reasons, we should get them for health reasons, and why not?

The La Salle Institute for Governance (LSIG) and the La Salle Institute for the Environment (LIFE) are planning innovative programs to enable students to become more active in cleaning the environment. The program will help river polluters in developing corrective measures that would be good for all.

All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE (PPA) are being recalled in the USA. What is the DOH doing about this? Certain drugs allegedly contain this ingredient (Alka Seltzer, Dimetapp, Robitussin, Dexatrim, Bioflu, Neozep, Tuseran and Disudrin). It is reportedly linked to INCREASED HEMORRHAGIC STROKE (bleeding brain) among women ages 18 to 49 and seizures among children. Visit the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) web site www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa.

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