by EcoHealth | Sep 14, 2016 | Blogs, News, Project/Program
Together with Prof. Brigit Obrist, Dept. of Anthroplogy, University of Basel and partners from the Universita del Valle, Guatemala, Jakob Zinsstag, president of IAEH, visited a new project site in Peten, Guatemala. The project aims to implement a transdisciplinary dialogue on surveillance and control of zoonoses among Maya communities. Jakob Zinsstag is deputy head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and President of the IAEH. He is interested in the health of mobile pastoralists and zoonoses control in Africa and Asia....
by EcoHealth | Jul 26, 2016 | Blogs, News, Project/Program
Recipient of a 2016 IAEH Small Grant Award Many media stories have supported claims about both the risks and benefits of fish consumption. This leads to much interest, but also some confusion regarding whether it’s safe to consume fish – especially for pregnant women and for children. BeneFISHiary is a mobile “app” that helps users make informed decisions about the fish they eat. Developed for Bermudians, who are strongly connected to the marine environment that surrounds them, BeneFISHiary provides the best evidence-based information available on local and imported fish regarding their average mercury and nutrient (omega-3 fatty acids and selenium) concentrations. Users can also learn more on the environmental sustainability of various fish species found in the seas that surround Bermuda. The creators of this app are a multidisciplinary team including an epidemiologist from the University of Hawai‘i (Dr. Catherine Pirkle), an anthropologist and conservationist (Dr. Philippe Rouja), and a designer who specializes in creating interactive stories powered by technologies (Mr. Tidjane Tall). The inspiration for BeneFISHiary originated from concerns about communication gaps between the Bermuda Department of Health, healthcareproviders on the islands, and pregnant women. Briefly, research in the early 2000s that was initiated by the team’s late mentor- Dr. Eric Dewailly- found elevated blood concentrations of mercury in Bermudian pregnant women. These levels were high enough to adversely affect the health and development of the children exposed during pregnancy. The researchers found that locally harvested fish species were mostly responsible for the elevated mercury levels. Subsequently, the team sampled several hundred local fish species to measure their mercury concentrations, as well as the beneficial nutrients of omega-3...
by Édouard Kouassi | May 23, 2016 | Blogs, Policy
The Montreal University Mental Health Institute (MUMHI) formerly known as Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine (HLHL) is the largest mental health hospital in the Province of Québec, Canada. This hospital has established in 2009 a sustainable development committee including representative members of the different departments, whose role is to coordinate the application of the action plan of the hospital in the domain of sustainable development, and to sensitize the employees and the patients about the challenges, main targets and accomplishments. The mandate of the committee takes into account the principles of the Quebec law in the field of sustainable development at the environmental, social and economic levels. The progress made in implementing changes is monitored periodically, and various tools are used to inform people, including via the intranet and through diverse activities, such as organized visits of the green innovations inside the hospital, and public conferences. Among the most remarkable achievements of the last 2 or 3 years, the budget dedicated to office supplies has been reduced by 20% , the use of 10 oz and 6 oz styrofoam glasses has been reduced by 30% and 40%, respectively. Moreover, the composting of food waste has increased from 483 kg at the beginning in December 2012, to as much as 1,046 to 1,827 kg per month in the period of January-December 2013. These realizations illustrate the notion that relatively simple and realistic changes can lead to huge impact in favor of sustainable development at the local level of a health institution. Challenging issues remain, including the need to reduce the use of paper by increasing the use of electronic devices whenever possible, the...
by Alessandra Nava | Jan 21, 2016 | Blogs, News, Project/Program
Land – use change in Brazil is a clear threat to biodiversity. We conducted project activities in two regions of Brazil: the Atlantic Forest and the Brazilian Amazon. Along with University of São Paulo and EcoHealth Alliance our team investigate the mechanisms underlying disease emergence by assessing the impacts of land use change, the types and degrees of human – wildlife contact, and viral diversity assessing bat host population. The team was composed by veterinarians, epidemiologists, social scientists and ecologists. In the Atlantic Forest, we worked in Pontal do Paranapanema. This area is located in the extreme western part of the Atlantic Forest in São Paulo State and is one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots in the world (Myers, et al. 2000). The process of forest fragmentation in the region is relatively recent beginning about 50 years ago, but only 17% of the original biome remains in a matrix composed mainly of pastures and sugar cane plantations. The Forest was replaced by farms, and more recently, with Landless Workers Movement become a matrix of small properties (10 ha ) along with farms. Therefore, we have important forest patches and a State Park – Morro do Diabo under high human pressure, posing many kinds of threats – hunting, pesticides and deforestation. Despite its environmental importance, the park and the Forest patches are under intense anthropic pressure, changing the natural cycles of disease. In the Brazilian Amazon, we faced a different dynamic, were the deforestation process is on going, and the human – animal contact has a different interaction from Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The information generated with this project will...
by EcoHealth | Jan 6, 2016 | Blogs, News, Project/Program
Intensification of crop and livestock production can improve food, nutrition, and income security; however, without sustainable resource management, intensification can also lead to increased agricultural-related health risks, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. This is especially true in Southeast Asia, a region facing rapid economic growth. To address this complex challenge, a better understand of the interactions between agricultural practices, human health, and ecosystems are required. The Field Building Leadership Initiative (FBLI), supported by IDRC, aims to explore linkages between intensive agricultural practices and human health in Southeast Asia.Developed jointly by research centres in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, and launched in 2012, this five-year initiative allows researchers and their partners to carry out research, capacity building, policy advocacy and networking to inform agricultural practice and policy. Generating scientific evidence can help mitigate health risks while maintaining the socio-economic advantages of agricultural intensification. Building regional research The FBLI’s research process is guided by Ecohealth principles including transdisciplinarity, participation, social and gender equity, and knowledge-to-action. The FBLI team, working with stakeholders from the onset of research for over three years, have generated new knowledge and developed interventions to promote sustainable agricultural practices. As agriculture is an important source for livelihoods in the region, careful consideration was given towards exploring economic benefits associated with changing practices, as well as gender and social equity, and empowerment of vulnerable groups. Four large research projects involving local and national stakeholders are currently being implemented: China: In Yuanmou County, Yunnan province, researchers and stakeholders are investigating the impact of chemical pesticides used for vegetable and fruit production on the health of farmers and ecosystems. Pesticide residues...
