Africa: WHO Urges Faster Action to End Lead Exposure Which Kills 3.5 Million Annually

What the report says

The World Health Organization is urging countries to speed up action to prevent lead exposure, which it says causes more than 3.5 million deaths worldwide each year and affects hundreds of millions of children. The warning, reported by UN News and distributed by AllAfrica, came ahead of International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, scheduled for 18 to 26 October.

WHO said lead exposure remains entirely preventable, yet fewer than half of countries have confirmed legally binding limits on lead paint. The agency warned that children are especially at risk because lead can damage developing brains and nervous systems, with effects that may not be visible right away but can last for life. WHO’s Bruce Gordon said countries should move earlier in the chain by removing lead from products and environments before children are exposed.

The report said lead contamination can come from paint, cookware, cosmetics, spices, informal recycling and industrial sources. It can harm multiple organs in adults and contribute to learning, behavioural and kidney and heart problems. WHO has said member states want a Global Action Plan on Lead Mitigation to go before the World Health Assembly next year.

WHO also plans to launch the PREVENT Technical Package in 2027 to help governments identify major sources of exposure, strengthen rules and monitor progress. It previously joined partners in a lead poisoning initiative to improve blood-testing capacity, including in several sub-Saharan African countries.