Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has launched initiatives to protect human health from adverse effects of mercury pollution.

Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) and National Action Plan (NAP) projects are being launched in line with the Minamata Convention on mercury, designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and release of mercury and its compounds, which Rwanda acceded to in June 2017.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.

Exposure to mercury – even small amounts of it– may cause serious health problems and is a threat to the development of the child before and after birth.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), inhaling mercury vapour can have harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs, kidneys and skin, and may be fatal.

The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.

After assenting to the Minamata Convention, Rwanda conducted a preliminary national survey to map out different institutions and priority areas suspected to have mercury and mercury pollution.

These include Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM), health sector (thermometers, tensiometers and dental amalgams), industry sector (butchery, paints) among others.

"The assessment is one of the solutions that will help us to evaluate ourselves throughout national mercury inventory used in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold mining as well as in health sector.

"However, NAP will help us to have health status of the people working with these sectors and put in place the alternative technology aiming at phasing out the use of mercury," said  Juliet Kabera, Director General of REMA.

The Minamata Initial Assessment project will raise awareness of health risks associated with mercury among the general public and government officials.

The artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, along with health, ICT, Transport, water and informal sectors were identified as priority sectors related to the use of mercury.

The development of National Action Plans for artisanal and small-scale gold mining is a requirement under the Minamata Convention.

Therefore, this project will support Rwanda to improve national capacity for managing mercury, and reduce the exposure of people to mercury and the associated negative health consequences.

The two initiatives are being supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The Minamata Convention has a phased approach to reduce, and where possible, eliminate mercury use in key industrial sectors. 

It is also designed to systematically reduce emissions and releases to land and water and phase out the use of mercury where alternatives exist. 

The Minamata Convention was adopted and opened for signature at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries held from 9 to 11 October 2013 in Minamata and Kumamoto, Japan and entered into force on 16 August 2017.

Up to June 2018, 128 countries had signed the treaty and 94 had ratified it. 

As of now, 131 countries have ratified the treaty and Rwanda became a Party on 29 June 2017.

To support the state parties to achieve the objective of the Convention, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) avails financial support to keep the momentum of making mercury history.