Objective 4: To provide and communicate evidence for action and practice
CC or NGO Name
CINBIOSE - Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Biology, Health, Environment and Society (CINBIOSE), University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada
Project title
Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health to Reduce Toxic Exposure in Latin America and the Caribbean
Keywords
Ecohealth, networking, global approach
Project leader
Email address
Donna Mergler mergler.donna@uqam.ca
Catharina Wesseling : ineke_wesseling@yahoo.com
Partners (of the CC Network)
Instituto Regional de Estudio en Sustancias Tóxicas (IRET), the Universidad Nacional
Insituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México
Other partners
Centro de Estudios de la Mujer (CEM), Santigao, Chili
Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável at the Universidade de Brasíia (CDS-UnB), Brasilia, Brazil
Fundação Saúde, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento (FUNSAD), Quito, Ecador
Funding
International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada
Objective of the project
Establish a Community of Practice of researchers, policy-makers and NGOs to integrate global, ecohealth approaches, whose pillars include interdisciplinary work, gender sensitive methods and community participation, into research and policy-making with a view to reducing exposures to toxic substances in workplaces and the environment.
Centres of Excellence in ecohealth approaches in the 5 regions of Latin America and the Caribbean (Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, Andean Region, Brazil, Southern Cone) with local outreach to researchers, NGOs and policy makers and strong transversal ties.
Funding ends in December 2008, with possibility for 3 year renewal
This project is establishing a Community of Practice on ecohealth research to reduce toxic exposure in Latin America and the Caribbean (CoPEH-TLAC), in partnership with Canadian researchers. It promotes and supports ecohealth research with policy intervention by progressively building on a nodal structure, strongly rooted in existing institutions that have demonstrated their capacity for interdisciplinary, intervention-oriented research and links to policy making. The Centres are focal nodes for outreach to their region and activities are co-ordinated by a Canada-LAC Core Committee. CoPEH-TLAC activities foster sharing, cross-fertilization and multilateral support. Inter-regional synergy is contributing to development, consolidation, integration and policy applications of ecohealth Approaches throughout LAC.
Dissemination
Dissemination is both transversal and vertical. CoPEH-TLAC participates in international, national and regional events and locally each Centre has a plan for dissemination. Each Centre is likewise responsible for a specific theme: vector-borne diseases, pesticides in agriculture, mining and metals, up-scaling the ecohealth approach and structural re-adjustment and gender. Thematic and regional workshops have been held in all of the regions. The ecohealth approach is serving to foster a better integration occupational and environmental health concerns and more global solutions.
Impact (global or regional)
Through our participation in events organized throughout the world, and notably in international events organized in Latin America and the Caribbean. CoPEH-TLAC. In each region, CoPEH-TLAC has established links with universities, ministries, unions and groups within civil society for dissemination of ecohealth approaches with a view to providing global and viable solutions to reduction of toxic exposures.
Progress on Project
CoPEH-TLAC has been highly successful. Beginning with a group of 13 members (7 women and 6 men), we now have an active membership of over 100 persons in the 5 regions. Each Centre has developed differently, reflecting the needs of their region, supporting regional projects in research and intervention. We initiated a transversal training program and laid the basis of a program for institutionalization and outreach to academics, policy makers, unions and civil society. We initiated an innovative evaluation process, based on network communication theory, and are building our website (http://www.insp.mx/copeh-tlac/esp/inf). An International Forum on Ecohealth that will be held in December 2008 in México, will mark the end of the first Phase.
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
See above
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
Medical care onboard ships: Creating a framework towards an evidence-based revision of the International Medical Guide for Ships 3rd
GPA Objective and Action
Objective 4, Action 4,2
Priority Initiative
no
Responsible CC or NGO Name
Hamburg Port Health Center, Institute of Occupational and Maritime Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
Project leader
Clara Schlaich
Email: Clara.Schlaich@bsg.hamburg.de
Network partners
Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Gydnia, Poland Email: bojar@acmmit.gdynia.pl
WHO Regions involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
Global
Country ministries involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
None
External partners for this CONTRIBUTING project
Alf Magne Horneland, Centre for Maritime Medicine, Haukeland University Bergen, Norway
Email: alf.magne.horneland@helse-bergen.no
International Maritime Health Association (IMHA), Dr Nebojsa Nikolic , E mail: travel-medicina@ri.t-com.hr.
Summary of the project
The publication of the International Medical Guide for Ships (IMGS) has initiated a discussion on the framework needed for it´s future revision. A general lack of scientific evidence concerning the impact of the medical interventions in the setting of ships was identified. The project aims to review the current evidence of health risks and needs for the population of seafarers. The available evidence on the efficacy and safety of medical interventions globally used on board will be assessed and areas of uncertainty identified. The impact of interventions on costs and on the seafarer´s health will be questioned. A recommendation will be given to the future revision of the IMGS.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Seafarers, port health authorities, ship owners, telemedicine centres, medical education centres for ship officers, port doctors.
Events-opportunities for furthering the project
Meetings of the WHO CC´s. International conferences of the scientific community in maritime health (primarily of the International Maritime Health Association)
Expected results of this project by 2012 (outcomes)
Recommendations for the revision of the IMGS 3rd ed considering the “Guidelines for WHO Guidelines”.
Indicators of achievement (impact)
Creating consensus of the guiding values for the development of an international guideline for the medical care on board. Identification of available evidence and areas of uncertainty. Localization of recommendations to the setting of ships. Identify costs and benefits for decision-makers.
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
1) Definition of the scientific questions and systematic review on the evidence of health risks and needs for the population of seafarers (by 2009).
2) Creation of a Database on the currently recommended interventions globally and on the available evidence on the efficacy and safety of medical interventions in the setting of a ship. Identification of areas of uncertainty (by 2010).
3) Definition of indicators for outcomes of interventions considering costs and impact on health. Development of final recommendations for the revision of the current IMGS (by 2012)
Public health impact
Impact on the health of the population of seafarers on commercial ships. Impact on global health concerning the international spread of communicable diseases through shipping.
Funding source(s)
No funds
Dissemination
Results and recommendations will be published in international journals and presented to the scientific community on conferences. The final recommendations will be presented to WHO as an aid for the future revision of the IMGS.
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
Development of final recommendations for the revision of the current IMGS (by 2012)
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA4.21u
Formerly AA2:46
GPA Objective
Objective 3: To improve the performance of and access to occupational health services
CC or NGO Name
Institute of Occupational Health and Safety - Tunisia -ISST
Project title
Study of professional exposure to organic solvents in Tunisia
Keywords
Organic solvents – professional exposure – hexane-styrene white spirit- Toluene Benzene - adhesives painting
-To evaluate the prevalence of morbidities linked to professional exposure to solvents
- To propose solutions to reduce professional exposure to solvents
Project outcome(s) and deadline(s) for completion of the project
- Establishing of an inventory of fixtures for the professional use of solvents in Tunisia
- Identification of the morbid states linked to solvents and their prevalence
- deadline: December 31- 2008
Target group and/or beneficiaries
-workers in companies which use organic solvents and in particular the manufacture of adhesives and paint products, leather and shoe industry, the laminated plastic industries and of dry cleaning companies.
Summary of the project
The sample of companies belonging to the branches of industry which use organic solvents, are carried out:
Census of the products used
- Identification of the work stations which expose to solvents
- quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the exposure to solvents, thanks to environmental and biotoxicologic monitoring.
- Clinical and paraclinical examinations of the workers exposed to solvents.
-These investigations will enable us to identify, qualitatively and quantitatively the risk situations and the pathological states associated with the professional exposure to organic solvents into the companies studied, and to recommend preventive measures to reduce this exposure
Dissemination
the results of the study will be diffused to the ministry of social affairs, to the companies studied, to Occupational Health physicians, and to the researchers and published in scientific reviews
Impact (global or regional)
National Impact by:
- A better knowledge of the working conditions and exposure to solvents in the Tunisian companies which are using them.
- An improvement of the working conditions in the companies which use organic solvents, leading to the reduction of morbidity related to solvents
Progress on Project
the study was completed entirely in two sectors which use most solvents, that is the sector of the manufacturing of the adhesives and paintings.
The results of the samples as well as the corrective recommendations were addressed to the companies.
The first results showed a high level of prevalence of the neuropsychic demonstrations (signs), which constitutes a real problem of public health.
The continuation of the study will be carried out during year 2009 in the leather and shoe and the laminated plastics sectors
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
See above
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA 4.21w
GPA Objective
GPA objective 2: to protect and promote health at the workplace, priority 2.1: psychosocial risks
To identify sleep deprivation indicators in drivers of vehicles at the workplace
Project outcome(s) and deadline(s) for completion of the project
Scientific paper with the results
Deadline December 2012
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Chilean workers
Summary of the project
This project will study indicators of drowsiness and its relation to age, type of driver’s license, type of job and other biological and psychosocial variables
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA 4.21x
GPA Objective
GPA objective 2: to protect and promote health at the workplace, priority 2.1: psychosocial risks
CC or NGO Name
Asociación Chilena de Seguridad
Project title
Efficacy of a psychological program to help workers that suffered accidents, assaults, emergencies or crisis at work
Keywords
Psychological trauma
Project leader
Email address
Ps Alejandra Sallato
asallato@achs.cl
Partners (of the CC Network)
None
Other partners
None
Funding
Asociación Chilena de Seguridad
Objective of the project
To analyze the efficacy of a psychological program to help workers that suffered accidents, assaults, emergencies or crisis at work
Project outcome(s) and deadline(s) for completion of the project
Scientific paper with the results
Deadline December 2012
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Chilean workers
Summary of the project
This project will evaluate if the psychological program now been used decreases the number of workers who develop mental disorders after these type of trauma Efficacy of a psychological program to help workers that suffered accidents, assaults, emergencies or crisis at work. This project will provide information that will allow Achs to continue or discontinue the psychological program
Dissemination
Paho's documents
Ciencia& Trabajo journal
Achs web site
Fundación Científica web site
Regional and International meetings
Impact (global or regional)
Regional
Progress
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012