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Public-Private
Partnership for Handwashing Initiative in Central America
In Fall 1995, EHP and BASICS began collaboration on a Public-Private Partnership Initiative in Central America. The
overall objective of the initiative was to reduce diarrhea morbidity and mortality in children under five through
promotion and increased adoption of effective handwashing. The strategy implemented was to work with private-sector
partners (primarily soap companies) in order to leverage a
modest amount of USAID investment into a long-term,
effective communications effort throughout Central America.
The terms of the partnership were established and documented
through the formalization of a Task Force comprised of
representatives from EHP, BASICS, and four Central American
soap companies. Under the initiative, handwashing campaigns
were launched in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica using
various media, school programs, and community promotion
through local markets and through NGOs. Both branded
campaigns (endorsing a company product) and generic
campaigns were launched.
This partnership activity was developed to serve as an example
of how public-private partnerships can work together where
areas of self and mutual interest are sufficiently defined, and an
effective process is developed and managed to facilitate and
sustain the collaboration.
Currently, EHP, BASICS, the World Bank, and UNICEF are
collaborating on a summary document describing the
development and implementation of this initiative. The
documentation is to provide guidance to others for the
application of this and similar approaches in other countries; it
will be oriented toward those organizations wishing to play a
"catalyst" role similar to that played by BASICS and EHP.
For information on the forthcoming publication, please contact
Dan Campbell (e-mail: [email protected])
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Hygiene
Behavior Improvement in Kinshasa Markets
The USAID Mission to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in
conjunction with USAID's Regional Urban Development Office (RUDO) in
South Africa, is currently implementing
an urban environmental health project through the local office of a
global NGO, Action Against Hunger. The project�s objective is to
improve sanitary conditions and hygiene behavior in public markets in
Kinshasa. Project activities focus on improving water supply and
sanitation services in the markets and conducting sensitization (i.e.,
information, education, and communication) campaigns related to food,
individual, domestic, and market hygiene.
To determine the project�s health impact, EHP in collaboration
with Action Against Hunger is supporting the design and analysis of
two studies: a baseline study and an end-of-project impact study. The
end-of-project impact study will look at utilization of hygienic
latrines; appropriate handwashing (timing and method); incidence of
diarrhea during the previous two weeks in children under 5; hygienic
conditions of shops and restaurants; and changes in knowledge,
attitudes, and practices of vendors and clients related to food,
individual, domestic, and market hygiene.
The studies will be carried out in Kinshasa by Action Against
Hunger in cooperation with the University of Kinshasa School of Public
Health.
For information on the activity, please contact Chris McGahey.
(e-mail: [email protected])
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Eritrea:
National Malaria Control Program Assessment Workshop
Through EHP, USAID/Asmara provides technical assistance to the
Eritrea National Malaria Control Program (NMCP). The NMCP held its
annual Program Assessment Workshop January 24-27, 2001. The workshop was
attended by over 100 participants from the MOH central and zonal staffs
and from several other ministries.
At the workshop, EHP staff and consultants presented preliminary
results from several studies conducted by the NMCP and EHP over the last
15 months. These studies include the first phase of a national parasite
prevalence survey; a national survey to identify the distribution and
abundance of anopheline species; longitudinal studies of vector behavior
and larval ecology; and clinical trials to determine the efficacy of
chloroquine for treatment of uncomplicated malaria. The studies will be
completed in April 2001 and final results will be available soon
thereafter.
For more information, please contact Gene Brantly. (e-mail: [email protected])
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Improving
the Early Warning Reporting System in Nepal
The Early Warning Reporting System (EWARS) in Nepal consists of
district and zonal hospitals functioning as sentinel sites reporting six
priority diseases. The Hetauda Vector- Borne Disease Research and
Training Center (VBDRTC) serves as the focal point for the system by
receiving and analyzing data from the sentinel hospitals.
With technical assistance from EHP, USAID/Nepal is supporting the
Ministry of Health in strengthening and improving the surveillance
capacity of the EWARS. A strengthened EWARS will have the following
components: (1) an improved district-level EWARS that allows district
health teams, VBDRTC, and the MOH/EDCD (Epidemiology and Disease Control
Division) to improve disease control
operations and respond to outbreaks in a timely manner; and (2) an
expanded community-based EWARS in three pilot districts to enable prompt
identification and operations at the community level as well as monitor
community-based behavior change and care-seeking interventions.
For more information on this activity, please contact Lisa Nichols.
(e-mail: [email protected])
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Assessing
the Feasibility of Developing a Vector-Borne Disease Center in the
Bolivian Amazon
Vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and
leishmaniasis are major health problems in Bolivia, particularly in the
Bolivian Amazon region. Strengthening the national laboratory network is
a key element in Escudo Epidemiologico ("Epidemiologic
Shield"), a Government of Bolivia priority program.
At the request of the Bolivian Ministry of Health, USAID/Bolivia
supported an assessment to determine the feasibility of developing a
vector-borne disease center (VBDC) at Guayaramerin to serve Beni and
Pando, two regions that make up most of the Bolivian Amazon. EHP
consultants were part of the assessment team. The VBDC is envisioned as
a regional laboratory for vector-borne diseases and a regional center
for training, applied research, and quality control for diagnosis,
treatment, and control of these diseases.
For information on the report on the findings from the feasibility
assessment, please contact [email protected].
For more information on the activity, please contact Gene Brantly at
e-mail: [email protected]
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What's New on Other Pages
New at Info Services
Environmental Health
Updates:
Malaria Bulletins:
New at Linked Sites:
Updated Meeting Alert
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Previous
Issues of "What's New?"
The main topics or countries
discussed are given in parentheses.
March
2001
(Nicaragua, Madagascar, Africa, DDT cost comparison)
January
2001 at EHP (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 at EHP (Nicaragua,
Dominican Republic, Madagascar, SANICONN)
September
2000 at EHP (Nepal/Regional,
EHP and E-conferences)
July
2000 at EHP
(Nicaragua, Malaria
Vaccine Development, "Water for the World")
May/June
2000 at EHP
(Nicaragua, International
Consultation on Indoor Air Pollution)
April 2000 at EHP (Nicaragua,
Madagascar, Mozambique)
March 2000 at EHP
(Benin, South Africa,
Eritrea, Madagascar)
February 2000 at EHP
(Nicaragua, Paraguay,
Ukraine, Mozambique and Eritrea)
January
2000 at EHP (Nicaragua,
EHP Lessons Learned)
Previous
Issues of "What's New?" by country
-
Eritrea
-
Madagascar
-
Mozambique
-
Nepal
-
Nicaragua
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