EHP News March 2003

ehproject
by
photo

We believe information about products and services that could benefit people should be made available to consumers to help them make informed decisions about their health care. Therefore, we try to provide accurate and reliable information by working with different fact-checkers to review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. A team of qualified and experienced fact-checkers rigorously reviewed our content before publishing it on our website. At TnHealth, we rely on the most current and reputable sources cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact-checked after it has been edited and before publication.

future image

TnHealth has taken reasonable steps to ensure compliance with regulatory bodies’ guidelines. Our claims in advertisements or sponsorships do not constitute endorsement or recommendation, and the exclusion does not suggest disapproval. TnHealth does not control or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or efficacy of the information contained in any advertisement or sponsorship. If you believe we have overextended ourselves and are in breach of the advertising guidelines, reach out to our team.

Please fill in the Feedback Form to give us your comments on the EHP web site.

IN THIS ISSUE:

BREAKING NEWS THE EHP NICARAGUA PROGRAM RECEIVES THE ROBERT C. MARINI CLIENTSHIP GRAND AWARD

The Nicaragua Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Health Program received CDM’s prestigious Robert C. Marini Clientship Grand Award. CDM (Camp Dresser and Mckee International Inc), the prime contractor for the USAID Environmental Health Project (EHP), established the Clientship Award to recognize each year the project that best achieves the integration of service, technical and business excellence, and outstanding client service.

USAID allocated nearly $9.8 million for water and sanitation improvements over a 28-month period to assist rural communities in Nicaragua affected by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. EHP served as program manager for the Nicaragua program. Through the program, EHP and its PVO partners reached an estimated 215,000 beneficiaries in 289 rural communities.

USAID rated the EHP/Nicaragua program performance as excellent, emphasizing the program “has been effective in establishing an excellent working relationship with the Nicaraguan government and NGOs.”The EHP/Nicaragua program was picked out of 3,000 ongoing CDM projects. The factors used in the selection included: excellent evaluation from the client (USAID); meeting or exceeding all project goals/targets within the project timeframe of two years; receiving an outstanding review from GAO auditors; and supporting humanitarian objectives. CDM has been working for USAID since 1964 and considers USAID to be one of the firm’s most important clients.

SIERRA CLUB HONORS AVS COORDINATOR

To celebrate women working for a better environmental future, the Sierra Club honored Dr. Odile Michele Randriamananjara, Association Voahary Salama (AVS) Coordinator, in celebration of International Women’s Day 2003. “Dr. Randriamananjara is an inspiration for women around the world,” the Sierra Club said, “Her work serves as a model for other population and environment programs in a growing field of family planning and conservation efforts.”  

EHP and AVS are collaborating in a USAID funded project “Community Centered Population-Health-Environment Interventions in Madagascar,” along with partners such as John Snow Inc. (JSI), LDI (Chemonics), Conservation International, Linkages, Measure Communications, PACT, Medical Care Development International (MCDI), and the University of Michigan Population and Environment Fellows Program.

For more details, visit the Sierra Club’s website, where you can download the Winter 2003 issue of the Sierra Club’s newsletter, “Population Report,” at http://www.sierraclub.org/population/reports/winter03/stories.asp.

To learn more about the EHP and AVS collaboration, email Odile Randriamananjara at [email protected]  or Eckhard Kleinau at [email protected].

CAIRO URBAN SLUM CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM

In an effort to help USAID Field Missions effectively program child health resources in urban slums, USAID/Asia Near East (ANE) Bureau launched an Urban Health Initiative.

Phase I of the Initiative, a desktop literature review of existing studies on child health in urban slums and squatter settlements in select countries of the ANE Region, was recently completed by EHP (<http://www.ehproject.org/live/Rptspub.html>). Cairo was one of the case cities selected in the desktop study, and the USAID/Egypt Mission responded favorably to a region-wide request for a city-based follow-on program.

Phase II is the design and implementation of a demonstration integrated child health program. Two slums in greater Cairo, Ezbet el Nakhl and Hekr Abu Domaha, have been selected for the program. These slums were selected for their extreme need, lack of infrastructure and services, and in the case of Hekr Abu Domaha, for its “temporary” status. Ezbat El Nakhl is a community of garbage collectors and recyclers whose livelihood is in jeopardy due to imminent privatization of Cairo’s solid waste management. The presence of NGOs in the neighborhoods capable of carrying out program activities added to the selection criteria, and capacity building of these organizations will be a key activity.

EHP and USAID/EGAT/Urban Programs staff visited Cairo in December 2002 to establish a relationship with the Mission and to scope out program approach and implementing partner possibilities. The Mission is participating in the Urban Slum Health Program through a grant for MCH/RH activities, which will complement EHP’s hygiene improvement efforts.

For more information on the Cairo program, please contact Sarah Fry at [email protected].

AGA KHAN WORKSHOP

Through EHP, USAID assisted the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the design, facilitation, and technical direction of a workshop for field and management staff from seven countries in Asia and Eastern Africa. The AKDN is a group of private institutions, including the Aga Khan Foundation and others, working to improve living conditions and opportunities in specific areas of the developing and developed world. The workshop was held in Kenya, February 24-27.

The overall goal of the workshop was to improve the impact and efficiency of environmental health programs within the Network. Specific objectives were to define environmental health within the context of AKDN programming; to describe a practical framework for environmental health programs and identify principles to guide its application within the Network; and to identify specific communication vehicles within AKDN and with outside sources that are engaged in environmental health.

The workshop was attended by 24 participants from India, Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Syria, Mozambique and Zanzibar. All workshop objectives were achieved, and a list of follow-up activities was developed. The complete report from the workshop is being finalized and will soon be available from EHP.

For more information, contact Craig Hafner at [email protected].

BEST PRACTICES FOR DENGUE PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN THE AMERICAS

In the past ten years, the number of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases has increased dramatically in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. In response to the growing need of health staff to address dengue prevention and control, USAID requested EHP to develop a document of best practices for the prevention and control of dengue fever.

The conceptual framework for the document is that of comprehensive, integrated dengue prevention and control, a framework the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) proposed in 1994, which is supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Dengue Branch, and the World Health Organization (WHO). The best practices include 11 examples of practices currently in use in several countries–nine from the Americas, one from Southeast Asia, and one of global application. The best practices selected were those that are consistent with the conceptual framework and reasonably well established, and they were written by a range of contributors, each of whom was directly familiar with the practice.

The document is now available from EHP (see “New EHP Publications” below).

DHANUSHA-MAHOTTARI VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE PROGRAM: COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF KALA-AZAR

With support from USAID/Nepal, EHP is collaborating with several local and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the Nepal Ministry of Health in pilot testing community-based interventions for kala-azar prevention and control.

The pilot program was initiated in 2001 in Dhanusha and Mahottari, two kala-azar and malaria affected districts of the Terai region. Under the program, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) and other community health workers, will play an important role. The training of FCHVs that is being conducted focuses on raising awareness at the community level, identification of kala-azar cases, and case referrals using specially-designed referral cards. Other community members such as Mother Child Health Workers (MCHWs), Village Health Workers (VHWs), and Village Development Committee (VDC) members are also being orientated to provide a support system for the FCHVs.

For information on the activity, please contact Lisa Nichols at [email protected].

SANITATION IN SMALL TOWNS: SUMMARY REPORT ON SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOPS

EHP developed a practical tool with a ten-step methodology for designing a sustainable sanitation plan for small towns. The methodology was field tested in three countries. To disseminate the principles and methodology with practitioners and policy makers throughout Latin America, two workshops were held–one in Peru and the other in Honduras–by EHP in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Water and Sanitation Program.

The workshops provided a unique opportunity to discuss the issue of small town sanitation with participants from 12 countries, representing national and local governmental and non-governmental institutions, and the donor community. A report documenting the outcomes of the two workshops is now available from EHP. (See “New EHP Publications” below.)

USAID KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT INVENTORY

Three knowledge-based tools used by EHP to communicate activities and practices in environmental health were highlighted in the USAID Knowledge Management Inventory:

  • Information exchange networks on malaria and hygiene
  • E-conferences on safe excreta disposal and EHP’s Hygiene Improvement Framework
  • The EHP website and virtual library.

The Inventory, produced by USAID, seeks to raise awareness in the Agency of the depth and breadth of knowledge assets, tools and activities available to USAID employees and partners and is a product of the Knowledge Management Fair held by USAID in December. Approximately 250 people visited the Fair. A searchable database that lists the more than 100 knowledge assets presented is now available on-line from the Knowledge Fair website at www.dec.org/partners/km_fair along with more information on USAID’s knowledge sharing plans and fair exhibits. In addition, an inventory of activities can be found in the Knowledge Marketplace section of the web site at www.dec.org/partners/km_fair/knowledge/

NEW EHP PUBLICATIONS!

STRATEGIC REPORT 6. INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT MECHANISMS FOR COMMUNITY-MANAGED RURAL WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION SYSTEMS IN LATIN AMERICA

This report’s purpose is to provide guidance to organizations and individuals involved in the design and establishment of support mechanisms that contribute to a greater capacity for sustained community management of rural water supply and sanitation systems.

A 458 KB PDF version of the report will be available at: http://www.ehproject.org/PDF/Strategic_papers/SR-6.pdf

For more information or a hard copy of the report, contact [email protected]

STRATEGIC REPORT 7. BEST PRACTICES FOR DENGUE PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN THE AMERICAS

The best practices include 11 examples of practices currently in use in several countries–nine from the Americas, one from Southeast Asia, and one of global application. The examples selected are reasonably well established and consistent with the conceptual framework proposed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in 1994 for comprehensive, integrated dengue prevention and control.

A 645 KB PDF version of the document is available at: http://www.ehproject.org/PDF/Strategic_papers/SR-7.pdf

For more information or a hard copy of the report, contact [email protected]

ACTIVITY REPORT 113. END-OF-PROJECT REPORT: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT CESH BENIN ACTIVITY, GESTION COMMUNAUTAIRE DE LA SANTE ENVIRONNEMENTALE II (GESCOME II)

The Benin activity implemented by EHP was developed as a joint programming activity by the USAID/Benin Family Health Team and the Democracy and Governance Office. The activity was known in Benin as Gestion Communautaire de Santé Environnementale II or GESCOME II (Community Management of Environmental Health). The goals were to (1) prevent diarrheal disease in young children and (2) support the Mission’s efforts to strengthen ties between municipal and departmental levels of government.

A 1.5 MB PDF version of the end-of-project report is available at: http:// www.ehproject.org/PDF/Activity_Reports/AR113.pdf

For more information or a hard copy of the report, contact [email protected]

ACTIVITY REPORT 114. GHANA URBAN HEALTH ASSESSMENT

The Environmental Health Project conducted an assessment of urban health needs in Ghana in July 2002. Although Ghana’s cities are growing rapidly, national development policies and international assistance packages have not yet focused attention on the needs of urban populations. USAID/Ghana requested this assessment in preparation for a strategic planning exercise that will determine the future direction of its population, health and nutrition assistance.

A 959 KB PDF version of the report is available at: http://www.ehproject.org/PDF/Activity_Reports/AR114.pdf

For more information or a hard copy of the report, contact [email protected]

ACTIVITY REPORT 116. URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PILOT ACTIVITIES: EVALUATION OF PROGRESS AND LESSONS LEARNED, USAID/DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Three urban health pilot activities begun in 2000–market sanitation and hygiene in Kinshasa; water, sanitation and hygiene in Kananga; and a community-based environmental health program in Kinshasa–have been completed. The pilot projects focused on hygiene improvement for diarrheal disease prevention. This report documents findings from the evaluation of the pilot activities, the lessons learned from the activities, and the implications of the lessons learned related to future programming in environmental health.

A 269 KB PDF version of the report is available at:  http://www.ehproject.org/PDF/Activity_Reports/AR116.pdf 

For more information or a hard copy of the report, contact [email protected]

ACTIVITY REPORT 117. SANITATION IN SMALL TOWNS, SUMMARY REPORT ON SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOPS: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT, WATER AND SANITATION PROGRAM, PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION. CUZCO, PERU, OCTOBER 1-3, 2002, TELA, HONDURAS, NOVEMBER 19-21, 2002

The purpose of this report is to present the outcomes of two workshops held recently on improving sanitation services in small towns in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region and to discuss key issues that need to be addressed to make progress in this often neglected area. The workshops provided a unique opportunity to discuss the issue of small town sanitation with participants from 12 countries, representing national and local governmental and non-governmental institutions, and the donor community. This report captures the insights gained in the course of conducting the two workshops.

A 264 KB PDF version of the report will be available at:  http://www.ehproject.org/PDF/Activity_Reports/AR117.pdf 

For more information or a hard copy of the report, contact [email protected]

Previous Issues

The main topics or countries discussed are given in parentheses.

January 2003 (The West Africa Water Initiative, Lac Regional Workshop On Community IMCI, Reducing Urban Malaria Transmission in Uganda, Lessons Learned from Community Management of Environmental Health in Benin, Urban Environmental Health Pilot Activities in DR Congo, An Enabling Environment for Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Systems in the Dominican Republic)

October 2002 (India: Improving Child Health and Nutrition, Hygiene Promotion in the LAC Region, Malaria Control in Eritrea, Congo: Hygiene Improvement, Madagascar: Integrated Health, Population, World Summit on Sustainable Development)

September 2002 (West Africa Environmental Health Assessment, Dissemination Workshop on Latin America Small Town’s Sanitation, Ghana Urban Health Assessment, News from BBIN Network, Honduras)

August 2002 (Improving the Early Warning Report System in Nepal, Assessing Sanitation Policies, Post-Mitch Activities in Nicaragua, African Sanitation and Hygiene Conference)

June 2002 (West Bank Environmental Health Assessment, New Publications)

March 2002 (E-Conference on Hygiene Improvement Framework, Latin America and the Caribbean, Larva Control, Nicaragua, Africa Malaria Day)

January 2002 (New EHP Director; Benin; Monitoring Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Activities; Malaria and Vector Control)

November 2001 (EHP Handwashing Publication, West Bank, Asia and the Near East, PAHO–EHP Partnership)

October 2001 (Benin, Sustainable Sanitation in Small Towns, DR Congo, Peru Behavior Change)

August 2001 (India, Eritrea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, BBIN Network, information exchange network)

June 2001 (Mozambique, Madagascar, Nepal, Dominican Republic, indoor air pollution consultation, Nairobi SIMA Conference)

May 2001 (Central America handwashing initiative, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Nepal, Bolivia)

March 2001 (Nicaragua, Madagascar, Africa, DDT cost comparison)

January 2001 (EHP Activities, E-Newsletter, National Malaria Control Programs in 4 African Countries, Congo, Decentralization in Latin America, Peru, WSSCC Forum, Global WS&S Assessment from WHO/UNICEF)

November 2000 (Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Madagascar, SANICONN)

September 2000 (Nepal/Regional, EHP and E-conferences)

July 2000 (Nicaragua, Malaria Vaccine Development, “Water for the World”)

May–June 2000 (Nicaragua, International Consultation on Indoor Air Pollution)

April 2000 (Nicaragua, Madagascar, Mozambique)

March 2000 (Benin, South Africa, Eritrea, Madagascar)

February 2000 (Nicaragua, Paraguay, Ukraine, Mozambique and Eritrea)

January 2000 (Nicaragua, EHP Lessons Learned)

Previous Issues by Country

How do we look?
EHP’s web site has a new look. Any comments or suggestions? Please send us your feedback.

+ Sources

Tnhealth has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We work mostly with peer-reviewed studies to ensure accurate information. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Related post