Young Volunteers of Environment - The Gambia made this call yesterday at a multi-stakeholder forum on lead in paint for household use in The Gambia held at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA).
Highly toxic chemical from lead can be found in paints, toys, art supplies, contaminated dust and gasoline products, which causes irreversible adverse effects on human health and the environment in general.
The event held on the theme ‘Ban Lead Paint’, was part of activities marking International Lead Poisoning, Prevention Week of Action 2024.
According to the UNEP, exposure to lead paint poses significant harmful effects to human health, especially among children who are the most vulnerable due to the nature of their brains and nervous system at that early stage of growth, and the health effects are generally irreversible which has a lifelong impact.
In her address, Benita Sagnia, a volunteer at Young Volunteers for Environment (YVE)-The Gambia, stated that YVE is a UNEP and UNCCD accredited UN Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention Observer, an IPEN member and has been instrumental in making lead in paint an issue of global concern through the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, now led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organisation.
“As we gather today, we stand in addressing a critical public health and environmental issue that affects our very well being and communities especially our children lead exposure through paint. Today’s event serves as a platform to discuss on gaps, lead effects and business on paint, possible strategies and plans that support policy dialogue and advocacy to better strengthen political commitment to address and integrate lead in paint phase out plans into national development frameworks,” she said.
Lead poisoning, she added, is an invisible but preventable hazard, which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable population like women and children.
Despite its known toxicity, she pointed out that lead continues to be found in various types of paint, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like The Gambia, where regulations may be weak and unenforced.
“Our goal for this week is to raise awareness about the dangers of lead in paint and to co-emphasise the urgent need for stronger legislation, industry accountability and public education on lead paint,” she said, adding: “Reducing lead exposure from paints is not just a health imperative, it is also essential for sustainable development and the protection of our environment.”
In his keynote address, Yaya Gassama, chairperson of the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment, acknowledged the critical role of lawmakers and the National Assembly in safeguarding public health through effective legislation.
The dangers posed by lead exposure, he went on, are not merely abstract; “they affect the lives of our children, our families, and the very fabric of our society”.
He expatiates: “Lead poisoning is a silent epidemic, often manifesting in developmental delays, cognitive impairments, and a host of other serious health issues. This is a preventable tragedy that we can and must address.”
The Kiang East lawmaker re-echoed that laws are the backbone of any effective public health strategy, saying they provide the framework within which “we can regulate harmful substances, control their import and sale, and protect our communities”.
“In the case of lead paint, we face a formidable challenge,” he underscores. “Despite the known dangers, lead-based paints continue to be used in many parts of the world, including The Gambia. This is a situation that demands our urgent attention.”
Lamin Jaiteh, registrar of Pesticides and Hazardous Chemicals at the National Environment Agency, acknowledged the hazardous chemical content of lead thus urges a ban to protect the health of people.
Lead paint exposure, they reiterate, causes severe mental and physical impairment such as reduced IQ, learning disabilities, hypertension, seizures, muscle weakness and growth delays.
