In partnership with the World Health Organization, Resolve to Save Lives co-led a technical webinar outlining two new frameworks to address lead poisoning: the WHO Global Action Plan on Lead Mitigation and the forthcoming WHO Technical Package on Lead Poisoning Prevention, both slated for publication in 2027.
Dr. David Berendes, our Senior Technical Advisor for Lead Poisoning Prevention, presented an overview of the Technical Package — which Resolve to Save Lives has partnered with WHO on to develop as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Lead Poisoning Prevention Initiative. Complementing the Global Action Plan, the Technical Package will provide practical, evidence-based guidance for countries to take action against lead.
At the webinar subject matter experts provided feedback on the two frameworks, with a rich discussion covering multisectoral leadership, informal sector engagement, and prioritization in low- and middle-income countries—which are overwhelmingly affected by lead exposure. Participants were invited to complete a follow-up survey and submit country case studies as examples of successful regulatory action, source identification, and public health response.
Lead remains in many common household products and industrial environments — including paint, spices, cosmetics, and lead-acid battery recycling facilities — and causes an estimated 3.5 million cardiovascular-related deaths annually. Globally, 1 in 3 children are affected by lead poisoning, making this an urgent area for public health action.
