Information and awareness-raising workshop for decision-makers, local elected representatives and opinion leaders on the impact of POPs/NOPRs and other hazardous chemicals on environmental health.

Today, it is clear that the issue of managing chemicals and hazardous waste is not sufficiently taken into account by decision-making bodies, which is reflected, among other things, by the fact that it is not included in the priorities and, consequently, the low budgets allocated to the sector. It is in this context that the PGSENPA, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the World Bank (WB), has deemed it necessary to raise the awareness of political decision-makers, local elected representatives, parliamentarians and opinion leaders on the issue of toxic chemicals, in particular POPNI and hazardous waste.

The meeting took place on 10 April 2025 at the Pullman Hotel (Dakar, Senegal) and was attended by more than 60 participants who were informed about :

• the provisions of the Stockholm, Basel, Minamata and Rotterdam Conventions and their implications for the management of chemicals and hazardous waste at local level;
• the issue of environmentally sound management of chemicals and hazardous waste; 
• the health and environmental impacts of POPs/NPPs, mercury and other hazardous waste, particularly on women and young people.

During the meeting, two (02) simplified and illustrated guides were distributed, on the environmentally sound management of biomedical waste and on the construction and use of standardised collection points (PRN) and waste collection points (PC) respectively.