1. Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation for Countries in the ECOWAS Region - Health Sector Seminar – 12 May 2008 Chelsea Hotel, ABUJA

2. Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation for Countries in the ECOWAS Region Purpose to bring together key representatives from govts, business and industry, and public interest and labour organs to discuss GHS implementation and capacity needs in the four GHS-relevant sectors of industrial workplace, agriculture, transport, and consumer products. Focus - ECOWAS countries Development of a regional strategy

3. Regional Workshop on GHS Implementation for ECOWAS Countries Objectives Take stock of status of GHS implementation in ECOWAS member countries; Initiate development of national implementation strategies; Ensure that health services are informed about GHS; Examine existing regional institutions and initiatives relevant for GHS implementation; Identify the role and initiate development of action plans for business industry, and public interest and labour organs to contribute to regional GHS implementation

4. Participation of health sector Planning Ensure health promoting policies Implementation Promotion and maintenance of optimum health throughout life cycle Monitoring and Evaluation Identify gaps Inform policy Improve implementation Research New and improved ways

5. GHS Health Sector 1 Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, (13) Sierra Leone, Togo– 23 Participants Representative of Health sector –to

6. Health Sector Seminar Objectives To inform health sector about GHS, and to discuss health aspects in more details Discuss possibility of health sector proposals related to GHS for SAICM QSP

7. GHS Health Sector 2 Health sector capacity assessment in chemicals management – national Improve knowledge – national Training – human resource for health, Education – schools, institutes of education Awareness raising - community Data on exposure from chemicals – national Poison Information Centres Establish – national Strengthen - region Public health & toxicology laboratory –national Capacity building Infrastructure – equipment, Chemical emergency response preparedness

8. Areas for Attention – not health competency Chemical safety profile Development of policy for chemicals manage’t Disposal of waste from chemicals Risk assessment from chemicals Improve regulatory capacity – human, equip’t Pesticides registration and legislation Fake & adulterated products Prevent children exposures to chemicals At work Toys

9. Activity Proposals Skills audit – Prevention and promotion Analysis and interpretation of results Management of cases Training – capacity building Exposure analysis – risks, hazards Laboratories Strengthen PIC - regional Develop PIC competencies - national

10. Thank you - Merci - Obrigado