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Increase support to orphans and other vulnerable children so they can enroll in primary and post-primary education.
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Invest in afterschool activities such as sports and games to help encourage attendance and discourage children from going to the mines after class.
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Increase access to post-primary education in mining areas by providing opportunities to students who fail the Primary School Leaving Examination to retake the test and compete for a place at a secondary school and by increasing the number of vocational training opportunities available to students after primary school.
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Continue to expand nurseries and other early learning and childcare institutions so young children do not have to accompany their parents to the mines.
The Department of the Environment Vice President’s Office •
Amend the National Strategic Plan for Mercury Management, in consultation with small-scale miners, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and civil society, in accordance with the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The plan should include a strong health response with provisions for periodic data-gathering on mercury levels (possibly in conjunction with other research where blood samples are collected), training for health workers on the health effects of mercury, and using health officials to carry out awareness-raising activities.
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Launch and implement the plan as soon as possible and focus on taking immediate steps to reduce exposure to mercury, particularly among children, and train health officials to recognize symptoms of extreme mercury poisoning.
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Lead efforts to ratify the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare •
Develop a comprehensive health sector response to mercury exposure in mining areas with a particular focus on child health. This program should seek the input of occupational health and mercury experts. In particular:
TOXIC TOIL
Train medical personnel on mercury intoxication; Increase the health system’s capacity to carry out biomonitoring of mercury levels in urine in mining areas, and mercury in blood, hair, and breast milk in at least one reference laboratory; Increase the health system’s capacity to diagnose mercury poisoning and mercury-related health conditions;
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