Case study: implementation of the Minamata Convention by the health sector in Brazil

Overview

The Sectorial Plan for the Implementation of the Minamata Convention is an initiative of the Brazilian health sector with the purpose of reducing mercury exposure impacts on human health in the country.

The strategies contained in the Sectorial Plan were built and will be implemented jointly by all its stakeholders, in order to expand and strengthen institutional and technical capacities for the identification, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of vulnerable populations; and to reduce and eliminate risks to human health from exposure to mercury and its products. Another goal is to develop a research agenda and expand the knowledge of the population and health professionals about the risks of mercury exposure, so that they are also an active part of the process of improving the proper management of this contaminant in the national territory.