Ecohealth:
a “new” approach to health?
APRIL 11, 2013
Objectives
 What is Ecohealth ?
 The Origin of Ecohealth
 6 Principles of Ecohealth
 IDRC and Ecohealth
 International Example: Chagas Disease in
Guatemala
 Canadian Example: Northern Health Authority
 Summary
What is Ecohealth?
 Health and well-being are considered in the context
of dynamic interactions between society, economies,
and ecosystems (Charron, 2012)
 Systems-based approaches to health and wellbeing
in the context of social and ecological interactions
(Webb et al., 2012)
 Ecohealth recognizes that healthy environments and
sustainable use of ecosystems is directly related to
human health
Origin of Ecohealth:
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
“ Our societies are complex and interrelated. Health
cannot be separated from other goals. The inextricable
links between people and their environment constitute
the basis for a socioecological approach to health.”
“ The overall guiding principle for the world, nations,
regions and communities alike is the need to encourage
reciprocal maintenance – to take care of each other,
our communities and our natural environment.”
WHO (1986). Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.
Origin of Ecohealth
 International Association of Ecology and Health
(2004)
 Journal – Ecohealth (2004)
 CoPEH – Canadian Community of Practice in
Ecosystem approaches to Health (2008)
6 Principles of Ecohealth
Systems Thinking
1.

Exposes patterns and linkages between social-economic systems
and ecosystems

Examines boundaries and dynamics of a problem from several
perspectives and different scales
Transdisciplinary Research
2.

Integrates methodologies, theories and concepts from different
academic disciplines with non-academic perspectives
Participation
3.

Leads to locally rooted innovation, cooperation and collaboration
6 Principles of Ecohealth (con.)
Sustainability
4.

Integration of ecological and social sustainability underpin the
field of ecohealth
Gender and Social Equity
5.

Health research cannot ignore health differences between
members of different social, economic, class, age or gender groups

These differences are reflected in their relationships with
ecosystems, their exposure to different health risks, status and
well-being
Knowledge-to-Action
6.

Action-oriented approach to research to improve health and wellbeing, and to promote equity and sustainability
IDRC and Ecohealth
Good health is essential
for development.
It relies on healthy
environments and
sustainable use of
ecosystems.
http://www.greenplanetmonitor.net/ne
ws/2012/03/chagas-disease/
International Example:
Chagas Disease in Guatemala
 Parasite: Trpansoma cruzi
 Kill more than 10,000 people/year
 Triatoma dimidiata carrier in C. America
 Chagas risk in Guatemala is closely related to poor
socio-economic conditions, certain cultural
characteristics, adobe housing construction and poor
hygienic conditions
 T. dimidiata enters the house through cracks in the
walls and ceilings which are particularly common in
adobe houses
Chagas disease (con.)
 Ecohealth approach:

Systems thinking:


Recognized the links between socio-economic status, hygiene and
disease transmission
Transdisciplinarity:
Medical entomology, anthropology, microbiology, architecture and
civil engineering – working together
 Collaboration with local public health officers, village authorities and
ordinary citizens


Participation:
Principles of participation were sought through various activities,
emphasis was placed on taking local traditions into consideration
 Engineers and architects worked with villagers to find best local
materials for wall plaster and confirmed with lab assays
 Research leaders and community leaders worked with municipal
authorities to ensure long-term access to sand

Chagas disease (con.)

Gender and Social Equity:
Anthropologist targeted hygiene and yard cleanliness by working with
the women
 Livestock kept from entering the house and living area and reduced
spread from animals


Sustainability:
Local community self-development approach , rather than just
focusing on disease control
 Culturally sensitive approach used similar plaster technique that had
been previously used, with slight adjustments to help with uptake and
long-term use


Knowledge-to-Action:

Final intervention was based on research findings, local knowledge
and practices and was realistic in both economic and cultural senses
and that supported long-term long goals.
Canadian Example:
Northern Health
 Northern Health’s position on the Environment as a
Context for Health is being achieved by working with
individuals, organisations and community partners
 Supports social and environmental development as
important contexts for health
 Developed an integrated settings approaches to support
interaction and connections among the settings for
health (where people live, work, learn and play).
Position Paper Approved by Northern Health Executive, June 2012
http://northernhealth.ca/AboutUsPosition: StatementsAddressingRiskFactors.aspx
Canadian Example:
Northern Health (con.)
Summary
 Ecohealth is a ‘new’ field that has encouraged innovative,
cross-disciplinary work both internationally and within
Canada
 6 Ecohealth principles






Systems thinking
Transdisciplinarity
Participation
Sustainability
Gender and Social Equity
Knowledge-to-Action
 Encourages dialogue and partnerships between different
groups and recognizes the relationships between human
and ecological health
References
Charron, D.F. (2012). Ecosystems approaches to health for a global
sustainability agenda. EcoHealth. 9:256-266.
IDRC (2012). Ecohealth Research in Practice: Innovate Applications of an
Ecosystem Approach to Health. (Ed. Charron).
Northern Health (2012). Position on the Environment as a Context for
Health: An Integrated Settings Approach.
Webb JC, Mergler D, Parkes MW, Saint-Charles J, Spiegel J, Waltner-Toews
D, Yassi A, Wollard RF (2010). Tools for thoughtful action: the role of
ecosystem approaches to health in enhancing public health. Canadian
Journal of Public Health. 101(6): 439-441.
WHO (1986). Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Geneva, Switzerland.
Web Sources
Canadian Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Health
http://www.copeh-canada.org/
Green Planet Monitor (accessed April 9, 2013)
http://www.greenplanetmonitor.net/news/2012/03/chagas-disease/
IDRC – Ecosystems and Health
http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Programs/Agriculture_and_the_Environment/Ecosystem_A
pproaches_to_Human_Health/Pages/default.aspx
International Association for Ecology and Health
http://www.ecohealth.net/association.php
Northern Health
http://www.northernhealth.ca/AboutUs/PositionStatementsAddressingRiskFactors.as
px
Questions?