COFEPRIS, CONAGUA Host First National Week Against Sanitary Risks

The National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) are celebrating the first national week against sanitary risks. Between April 30 and May 6, the institutions will host a series of awareness and education activities in a diverse range of topics ranging from clean water and sanitation to safe food handling and pharmacovigilance.

 “A coordinated and joint work with other sectors, such as the environment, education, agriculture, industry and transportation, allows progress towards the development and implementation of public policies that contribute to minimizing health risks,” said Miguel Malo, Representative in Mexico, PAHO/WHO.

Malo emphasized the value of this strategy to involve the community and local governments in sanitation measures, since only with their participation is it possible to properly address health risks. The events schedule is as follows:

• April 30: Clean water

This day, the event focused on the disinfection of water both at the sources and in households and supplied materials for water dechlorination.

• May 1: Sanitation

Activities focused on disinfection and basic sanitation at supply sources or areas that could potentially pose health risks. The activities also addressed the degradation of the urban environment, the current sanitary crisis and the poor control of solid waste management, specifically in Acapulco, Guerrero.

• May 2: Pharmacovigilance

Activities focused on the delivery of pharmacovigilance informational material to pharmacies, hospitals and the general public. There was also a program to strengthen Pharmacovigilance Units in hospitals in Acapulco and a panel to share achievements and challenges in pharmacovigilance, its role in the federal health system and in the Americas.

• May 3: Smoke free space

The focus turned to tobacco-smoke-free establishments and the impact of the modification of the general law for tobacco control. Activities also addressed an initiative to prevent emergencies and zoonotic pandemics.

• May 4: Hygienic food handling

Today, CONAGUA will launch guides and podcasts regarding sanitation translated into indigenous languages. The event will host conferences on the importance of traceability in foodstuffs and on interstate coordination for the management of samples of products not covered by current regulations. It will also host a cultural activity with Le Cordon Bleu regarding food hygiene.

• May 5: Proper use of medicines

Activities will focus on promoting monitoring and sanitary control of food marketing, and will address antimicrobial resistance.

• May 6: Digitalization

To close the event, the organizations will launch a campaign to fight counterfeit products. COFEPRIS will issue a presentation on transformation of the sanitary authorization commission. This day aims to promote the digital tools available to streamline health regulation and promote innovation.