The current issue (AEO-3) focuses on the linkages between environment and health, largely because of the recognition that environmental factors contribute about 28 per cent of Africa's disease burden. This disease burden is dominated by diarrhea, respiratory infections and malaria which collectively account for 60 per cent of the known environmental health impacts in Africa. Accordingly, the Ministers of Environment and of Health at their 2008 joint meeting in Libreville, Gabon selected the linkages as the principal focus of joint actions. This focus was reemphasized at their 2010 joint meeting in Luanda, Angola and selected by the technical committee as the theme for AEO-3. It is envisaged that this Summary for Policy Makers (SPM) as well as the AEO-3 main report will provide information for evidence-based decision making and spur AMCEN member countries into strengthening their capacity for policy making and advocacy at the national, regional and global levels