Technical Cooperation Program: Environmental and Health

MISSION

The mission of the project is to strength, promote, coordinate, develop, coordinate and support state border activities related to identification, control, prevention of environmental conditions that may affect human health in the US-Mexican Border.

VISION

The vision of the project is to increase people health condition levels and life quality by improving the quality of their environment in the United States-Mexico border states

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

1. Strengthening Border States capacities for a sustainable development of environmental health. Improving information flow toward and among Border States and agencies working along this area.

2. Building technical capacities for assessment and surveillance of health risks related to the environment, as well as the management capacity for its prevention and control.

3. Promoting awareness and understanding of the linkages between health, environment and sustainable human development.

To achieve this objective the environmental health advisor will have following terms of reference:

1*. Providing scientific support and advice on the design, implementation, analysis and interpretation of epidemiological studies on the health problems affecting populations exposed to environmental hazards associated with the rapid industrialization of the border area, such as the low coverage of basic sanitation services, the contamination of the air, the exposure to pesticides and heavy metals and chemical pollution as risk factors for water born diseases, acute and chronic respiratory problems, acute and chronic intoxication's and defects of the neural tube defects.

2*. Collaborating with counterparts in the establishment of policies, methods and procedures for the execution of epidemiological and /or surveillance programs related to hazardous agents in the environment; coordinating efforts with other Federal, State and local agencies in the border states of the two countries

3*. Providing and supporting training and human resources development in the field of environmental epidemiology and surveillance on the United States-Mexico Border.

4*. Provide technical cooperation to other countries of the Region including Mexico by transferring results and experiences; as requested and coordinating with HQ, WDC and HEP/CEPIS and the respective PWR’s office on these issues

5*. Provide input on the environmental health/epidemiology component of the public health and epidemiologica1 information activities of the FO/USMBHA such as:

6*. Provide technical support in the event of chemical emergencies; providing emergency preparedness support within the United States-Mexico Border area

7*. Perform other related duties, as assigned.( Terms of reference of environmental health advisor)

 To achieve this objective the environmental health advisor will have the following strategic orientations:

 1. Promoting the implementation of border wide strategies for community mobilization and intersectional coordination on the environment.

 2. Strengthening the capacity of the States Border Health Department, and Environmental Health Departments to exercise leadership and an advisory role in the treatment of environmental health issues in development plans and projects, and developing local capabilities for the operation and maintenance of health systems and services.

3. Contributing to the education and specialization of human resources in environmental epidemiology, toxicology, and surveillance on the USMB.

4. Promoting programs and projects on the effects of the environment on the health of children aimed at identifying and eliminating or minimizing environmental factors that have a particularly adverse effect on the health of this population due to its greater susceptibility.

5. Supporting the promotion and implementation of primary environmental care activities within the context of Health for All, in order to offer communities environments that promote development through the community’s active participation in identifying their own needs and in finding solutions.

6. Promoting the updating of standards and regulations governing the quality of environmental services and products.

7. Promoting the establishment of systems and mechanisms that make it possible to gather, analyze, and utilize data and indicators on the quality of the environment.

1. Promotion of policies, plans and norms

2. Resources mobilization

3. Human resources development/training

4. Information dissemination

5. Direct technical cooperation

6. Research promotion

Technical cooperation will be available to border institutions, education and research centers, local governments, and organizations related to environmental health in the 10 border states of the USMB.

Requests for technical cooperation must be done through the FOEP/PAHO representative Office in El Paso Texas.

1. Information Collection and Dissemination in Environmental Health

Collaboration with border states in collection, analysis and dissemination of basic sanitation indicators in water, drainage, solid and hazardous waste and environmental contamination and response.

2. Active Surveillance Systems

Collaborate in the maintenance and development of surveillance systems and monitoring of hazardous agents (pesticides, heavy metals and radioactive agents); promote and support the strength and development of programs for food safety including the surveillance of biological and chemical contaminants in the food chains; and promotion of risk contamination analysis studies of water, air, soil and food.

3. Institutional Strength

Increase awareness of staff in the poison control centers; support occupational health initiatives; promote and support emergency and contingency plans in case of environmental accidents; define and support plans of human resources development and training.

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U.S. - Mexico Border Field Office of the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office of the World Health Organization.
Oficina de Campo de la Frontera México - Estados Unidos de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Oficina Regional de la Organización Mundial de la Salud.

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