National Environment and Health Action Plan of Georgia 2018-2022 (NEHAP-2)

The National Environment and Health Action Plan of Georgia 2018-2022 (NEHAP-2) is a national multi-sectoral action plan of Georgia. Its strategic objectives are as follows: improve access to safe water and sanitation, including for each child; improve access to healthy and safe environment for Children and Youth to ensure their increased physical activity; the impact of ambient and indoor air pollution on human health assessed and implemented measures to reduce the harmful effects; prevention of morbidity caused by exposure to chemical substances; and integration of health issues in climate change adaptation and mitigation policy.
The Action Plan’s more specific measures include: legislative and normative base, policy for water resources and protecting drinking-water supply - reviewed and updated by 2022; establish the effective surveillance systems on waterborne diseases and drinking water (by 2022); ensure public health through improvement of access to safe and sustainable water supply according to National and International requirements; provide to Georgian population adequate sanitation and wastewater treatment plants; improve drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene -WASH) in Educational and Medical facilities, Recreational Areas and IDP settlements; relevant legislation harmonized according to the Association Agreement by 2020; compared to 2018, the proportion of schools and kindergartens, where safe physical activity is available, has increased by 20% in 2020; compared to 2018, the proportion of schools and kindergartens with adjacent territories safe for children’s movement, has increased by 10% in 2020; relevant legislation harmonized according to the Association Agreement; CLRTAP and its last 3 Protocol are ratified; air quality monitoring in major cities of Georgia (Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, and Batumi) is carried out in accordance with EU Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC); provide health-relevant information on population exposure to air pollution and its influence on health in major cities of Georgia (Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, and Batumi); health risks due to fuels combustion (wood, gas, kerosene, etc.) for heating and cooking in households and children’s educational institutions are assessed; child care facilities, kindergartens, schools and public recreational settings are tobacco smoke-free; according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Batumi Action for Cleaner Air and WHA68.8 of the World Health Assembly resolution, complex strategies and action plans have been designed to minimize harmful effects on air pollution and human health, with involvement of environmental, health and other sectors; harmonization of the relevant legislation in line with the Association Agreement and other relevant legal multilateral environmental international treaties; elaboration of legislative and operational framework for creating a data base to collect relevant information on hazardous chemicals transported/imported, produced, used and disposed in Georgia by 2020; the risk of hazardous chemical substances in children in schools and kindergartens is estimated and reduced by 2020; Development of National Program for the assessment and management of asbestos developed by 2019; the risk of exposure to hazardous chemical substances at work places (especially in rural areas) is estimated and reduced by 2020; the measures to reduce the impact of radon on the population are planned and implemented by 2020; evaluate vulnerability to climate change, health impacts and adaptation (health care aspects) including assessment of existing and anticipated risks related to health impacts of climate change by 2022; develop National Health Care Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan, among them, for medical facilities by 2021; harmonize the legislation with regard to the requirements of the UNFCCC Convention and assessment of health outcomes by 2022; health care facilities reduce the share of greenhouse gas emissions in national emissions, including introduction of renewable energy use in several hospitals within the framework of the pilot project by 2022; education / preparation of population and preparedness for emergencies caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and other extreme weather events as well as Technological disasters by 2020.