Projects & Publications
Environmental Health Indicators Initiative
Start Date: 2004 | Completion Date: TBD
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Project Purpose
The ultimate goal of this project is to improve public health in the US-Mexico Border Region by strengthening the scientific basis for environmental decision-making. In addition, the project will strengthen the scientific expertise needed to participate in such processes.
Project Description
The program has three components:
- Environmental Health Indicators Initiative - This component intends to define a framework for identification and use of specific indicators that establish a link between health and environment. These Environmental Health Indicators (EHI's) are intended to help in the comparative assessment of the status of the environment and public health before and after implementation of activities that support the US-Mexico Border 2012 program. Activities includes:
- Promotion of Pilot research Projects to identify binational health indicators along the US-Mexico Border.
- Dissemination of the importance and relevance of Environmental Health Indicators through Binational Meetings and Conferences.
- Information and Communication on Environmental Health along the US-Mexican Border - This component looks to strengthen the environmental health capabilities of individuals and institutions in the areas of environmental health, by providing a common platform to access and disseminate environmental and environmental health information to individuals, organizations and agencies along the US-MX Border by:
- Development, coordination and complementation of the Geographical Information Systems along the border by developing Binational GIS maps
- Development a special section on environment and environmental health to disseminate environmental health data, research and information.
- Advanced Training In Environmental Health - This component is part of a binational program to strengthen environmental health capabilities of individuals and institutions in the areas of environmental health and risk communication in the United States-Mexico border region. Training will focus on developing the disciplines of environmental health/occupational epidemiology, toxicology, engineering and risk communication. Audience: The target audience will be those working on health and environment and community settings, as well as stakeholders and decision makers in governmental and non-governmental institutions and universities in the border region.
Expected Outcomes
- 3 to 5 pilot research studies to identify effective and relevant environmental health indicators.
- To promote the results of such research studies throughout the border virtual health library , binational conferences and meetings, and develop an environmental health area in PAHO Web Site
- Use of the binational Geographic Information System maps by the NGO's and Agencies related with Environmental Health along the US-Mexico Border and Support the use of Geographic Information Systems Binational Maps
- Create capacity among the staff of agencies and NGO's working on environmental health.
Project Contacts
Environmental Health Office at PAHO5400 Suncrest Dr. Suite C-4
El Paso, Texas 79912
Ph (915) 845 5950 Ext 31
Fax: (915) 845 4361
Participants
PAHO, CDC/EPA, USMBHC and other Researchers and Agencies along the US Mexico Border PAHO, (CDC/NIOSH, CDC/NCEH, ADHS, CDHS, NMDOH, TDH, FUMEC, DGSA, DGE, INSP)