Water Sanitation and Health

The programme Water, Sanitation and Health supports countries in providing access to safe water and adequate sanitation for all in order to improve the health and well being of the populations. Specifically, the WSH provides:

technical and financial Provision of technical and financial support to Member States for developing policies, strategies and plans of action to improve the sustainability of water supply and sanitation systems.

Guidance and tools for sustainability of water supply and sanitation facilities with focus on :

Operation and maintenance, community management, participatory health and hygiene education transformation, Drinking water quality surveillance.

Assists countries in resource mobilization for the development of the water supply and sanitation sector.

Acts as a Secretariat for the AFRICA 2000 Initiative for Water Supply and Sanitation.

Makes collection, analysis and dissemination of information on water supply and sanitation sector monitoring through development of regional and national data bases.

Advocates for intersectoral action and expanding partnerships across different sectors, institutions and groups through networking.

Support to training and research in the field of water supply and sanitation.

Vector Biology and Control (VBC)

Vision
The Regional Programme for Vector Biology and Control was established to work in close collaboration with other Division of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control (DDC) programmes with a vector control component and with the Division of Healthy Environments and Sustainable Development (DES) on environmental issues.

Mission
The VBC aims at contributing to the reduction of vector borne disease (VBD) transmission so as to impact on disease mortality and morbidity. The priority disease is malaria where at least 60% time will be spent and 40% for other VBDs.

Functions
To support countries in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of vector control activities.

To support countries in the strengthening of their capacities for vector control.

To promote and support implementation of evidence based interventions.

To contribute to the strengthening of legislative frameworks and regulation mechanisms and their application in relation to the promotion of integrated vector management.

Protection of Human Environment

Inadequate shelter, contaminated food, and indoor air pollution are important environmental threats to poor households and communities in rural and urban areas.

Polluted and scarce water resources and the contamination of soils by toxic chemicals emitted by industrial, agricultural and municipal waste have drastically increased the cost of water treatment and vector control.

Despite commendable efforts by governments and development partners, 45% of African people lack access to safe water and adequate sanitation.

As a consequence, infectious diseases linked to poor environmental conditions kill one out of every five children, diarrhea and acute respiratory infections are two of the top killers of children, and cholera is endemic in at least a dozen countries in the region.

It is evident that these environmental health conditions are closely linked to poverty and the broader set of developmental challenges that countries face.

In order to address the above problems and challenges, the protection of human environment area of work covers a broad range of risk assessment and normative work.

With health and sustainable development high on the agenda, the programme ensures the:
Provision of technical guidance to countries on environmental health impact assessment
Strengthening environmental health measures and mitigation of harmful effects.

Technical support to countries in the development and implementation of pro-poor environmental and health policies and legislations.

Promotion of integrated and holistic community-based approaches that target the highly vulnerable.

Poverty and ILL Health

Poverty is multi-dimensional in its causes as well as in its cures.
Poor health is a major contributor to poverty and good health status one of the means to prevent poverty or, better still, a means to overcome poverty.
For this reason, health is already considered as an important element on the international poverty reduction agenda.

The major objective of this priority domain is to address the environmental, social and economic dimensions of poverty and ill health within the framework of sustainable development practices.

To achieve this objective, the following interventions should be carried out by AFRO:
Provide technical support to Member States in formulating policies, strategies and plans of action to break the vicious circle of poverty, environmental degradation and ill health.

Provide an advocacy platform and rational guidance to Member States on equity and poverty alleviation principles for integrating health into poverty reduction programmes .

Provide operational support to countries at national, local and community levels, in the development and implementation of participatory approaches/tools for breaking the vicious cycle of poverty underdevelopment, unhealthy environment and diseases .

Develop the knowledge base through which to locate poverty and ill health in a broader political, economic, environment, social and cultural setting.

Collaborate with UN Agencies, business, NGOs and development of public awareness strategies to facilitate the formulation of community based poverty reduction projects and programmes.

Occupational Health

To promote physical, mental health and social well-being of workers at work place

Functions

To provide technical support to the countries of the Region:
To prepare policies, programmes and plans of actions

To develop human resources

To support health information systems

To support community based projects

To mobilize resources for programme/project development and implementation

Long Term Health

Long-term Health Development (LHD) is a new program aimed at promotion of long-term studies and planning inhealth.

LHD supports the Ministries of Health in:
Increasing awareness to long-term approach;

Developing capacities in vision formulation and long-term plans;

Developing capacity in environmental scanning and anticipation skills.

Health in Sustainable Development

Trends in health development and health system performance are undergoing rapid change. The capacity of member states to provide sustainable solutions to health challenges will depend on how the capacity to provide essential care to all, and the capacity to alleviate extreme poverty evolve over time.
Given the complex nature of these challenges, it is imperative that member states adopt a long-term approach for sustainable health development.

The Health in Sustainable Development area of work aims to promote and protect human health vis-à-vis social and economic environment and development.
Its strategic objective is to influence development policy through a comprehensive understanding of the health dimensions of sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Food Safety

Little in the way of foodborne surveillance is done within regional member countries; as a result the data are extremely scarce.
The high incidence and prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases among new-borns and young children are indications of the alarming food hygiene situation in member states. In addition to severe illness and death, foodborne diarrhoeal diseases cause malnutrition, which can result in stunted or retarded growth of children and also weaken resistance to disease.
Although outbreaks of acute poisoning are more and more recurrent in the region, inadequate or non-existent surveillance facilities hinder the assessment of chemical contamination on health.

A number of interrelated and mutually reinforcing set of problems keeps foodborne disease at a high level within the region at the core is poverty.
Poverty promotes the sale of affordable food in public places that unfortunately tend to be characterized by low levels of hygiene.
The lack of legislation and limited facilities for controlling the quality of imported foodstuffs further compound the challenges faced by member states.
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The overarching goal of the food safety programme is to assist member countries to ensure consumer protection and significantly reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses through the application of preventive and scientific based approaches and strategies.

The programme pursues this goal by:
Assisting countries to streamline food safety considerations into various health systems and programmes,

Advising member states to elaborate legislation and standards in this field,

Collaborating with national governments and international partners in the development and implementation of prevention and control strategies for foodborne disease outbreaks;

Promoting/strengthening food surveillance and assessment in member states.

Disseminating information and educational materials on food safety;

Environmental Risk Assessment

The Environmental Risk Assessment programme is combination of two earlier programmes, Environmental Health Hazards (EHH) and Promotion of Chemical Safety.

The mission of the programme is to protect human health through the control, mitigation and elimination of environmental health hazards.

The programme aims to assist countries in their quest to improve public health by controlling environmental risks and hazards through cost effective means based on scientific facts and utilizing community participation.

The following components are included in Environmental Risk Assessment:
Drinking Water Quality Control

Sustainable management of chemical safety

Environmental health impact assessment and mapping

Sustainable management of biomedical wastes

Promotion of radiation safety

Other environmental health hazards of chemical safety.

Environment and Promotion of Health

The Environment and Promotion of Health (EPH) programme aims to assist countries in the implementation of environmental health policies, a central focus is on tools/initiatives that have proven to be effective in making environments supportive to health, in particular the “healthy Settings approach”.

Recognizing the need for intersectoral action for sustainable health development, the programme works to promote comprehensive and partnership based approaches to systematically address environmental health concerns at the local level.

The Environment and Promotion of health programme concentrates on activities linked to healthy cities, healthy schools, healthy villages, healthy markets, etc.

It is based on the notion that health depends not only on good health services or individual lifestyles (important as these are) but on a supportive environment. Of particular concern are the most vulnerable groups in society such as children, within the context of the “Settings Approach”, the programme provides strategic guidance to ensure the rights of children to live and grow in healthy environments.

The programme pursues its goal by:
Providing technical support to countries in ensuring that health is an integral component of municipal and national plans and activities.

Assisting in resource mobilization and networking for city level projects.

Development and dissemination of promotional materials, technical guidelines and manuals.

Technical support and promotion of innovative community based-pilot activities within the framework of the settings approach – Healthy Villages, Healthy Schools, Healthy Markets etc.

Environmental Health Policy

The attainment of sustainable development by creating friendly environment conducive to health can only be realized through the enhancement of an environment that is free from biological, chemical and physical hazards emanating from local, national and international sources. In this regard, environmental health plays a pivotal role in the endeavor to create and foster an environment that is safe to work, recreate and live. It is in fact one of the most essential elements and preconditions for development. The primary and principal step deemed imperative in the effort to deliver environmental health services is the development and formulation of comprehensive and sound policy in the sector.

The Environmental Health Policy (EHP) programme aims to assist countries in their endeavor to realizing the achievement of sustainable development by creating an environment conducive to health through the development and formulation of Environmental Health Policy and strengthening/development of their capacities to render sound Environmental Health Services.

The main areas of focus of EHP include:
Providing technical support to countries in the African Region in development/review of National Environmental Health Policies and development/strengthening National Capacities.

Assisting countries in the formulation of Environmental Health Policies to realize the implementation of the Regional Strategy for Health and Environment adopted during RC 52.

Assisting countries in the elaboration and review of their policies on the sector.

Assisting countries in developing Policy Implementation Strategy for proper and effective implementation of the policy.

Developing and disseminating technical guidelines and other promotional materials related to policy formulation, implementation and capacity building.

Coordination of Macroeconomics & Health

Investing in health, particularly the health of the poor people, is central to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS). Health is central to creating and sustaining the capabilities that the poor need to escape from poverty. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals set challenging, specific targets requiring urgent action and international cooperation for their achievement.

The WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (CMH) consolidated the evidence for greater investment in health and set out an agenda for action at global and national levels. Before the CMH Report, economic wealth was taken as the driver of health: "As people get wealthier, they will get healthier". After the CMH evidence, health is being understood as the driver of poverty reduction. A well-planned strategy for health investments will accelerate social and economic growth. The Coordination of Macroeconomics and Health program, building upon the report of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, aims to support countries achieve the MDGs. It has three core themes:

focus on the poor by identifying cross sectoral strategies and cost effective options that will sustain improved health outcomes;

strengthen commitments to increased financial investment in health; and
minimize non financial constraints to the absorption of greater investments by increasing efficiency and effectiveness.

The program encourages and helps countries to prepare long term multi-sectoral investment plans, secure financing for both further preparation and for implementation of the investment plans; and provide technical support to countries for their plans in coordination with other agencies.

The program recommends the formation of a National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health or other appropriate institutional arrangements to coordinate the task of scaling up health interventions through: assessing health priorities, establishing a scaling up strategy, working together with other health related sectors, ensuring a sound macroeconomics framework, and preparing an epidemiological baseline, operational targets, and financing plan.

The key terms in CMH are investing in health for development, effective partnerships, innovative funding mechanisms, effective frameworks, inter-sectoral collaborations, and close-to-client systems.

Healthy Environments and Sustainable Development

• Coordination of Macroeconomics & Health
  
• Environmental Health Policy
  
• Environment and Promotion of Health
  
• Environmental Risk Assessment
  
• Health Action in Crisis
  
• Food Safety
  
• Health in Sustainable Development
  
• Long Term Health
  
• Occupational Health
  
• Poverty and ILL Health
  
• Protection of Human Environment
  
• Vector Biology and Control (VBC)
  
• Water Sanitation and Health