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Ozone Day

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone
Layer 2004

Drawing by Michelle Klink, aged 16, Namibia, ‘Happiness. Let’s Heal the World’

Save O3ur Sky:
Ozone Friendly Planet,
Our Target

Promote Sun Protection Education

Describes the Intersun project and how to participate
Explains the importance of sun protection in schools, and outilines necessary steps for establishing a school programme
A guide for primary school teachers that provides suggestions and ready-made teaching activities
A guide for schools and educational and health authorities at the local and national level
  • Every year, there are between two and three million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancers and more than 130,000 new melanoma skin cancer cases worldwide.
  • An estimated 66 000 deaths occur annually from melanoma and other skin cancers.
  • Cataracts are responsible for more than 8 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years worldwide.
  • A significant part of a person’s lifetime exposure to UV comes before the age of 18.
  • By reducing over-exposure of children and adolescents to the sun, we can substantially reduce the risk of contracting skin cancers, cataracts and other conditions which might only appear much later in life

The cause of many of these skin cancers is ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun and children, who are both most vulnerable and most exposed, are disproportionately affected. In response to the problem, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other partners in the Intersun Project have developed a set of educational materials to help people around the world become more aware of the risks from exposure to UV radiation, and to take the measures to prevent over-exposure.

The Intersun Project School Sun Protection Package comprises three booklets: a guide for schools and teachers on why and how to develop effective sun education programmes, practical teaching materials for primary school students, and evaluation materials to assess the effectiveness of primary school sun-education programmes.

Contact your Ministry of Education or equivalent agency and encourage them to develop curricula components related to UV awareness and safe sun habits for children and youth.

  
© UNEP DTIE 2006 | updated 27-jul-06