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Summary
The aim of the CIDA-funded Canada-Cuba Partnership Project for Environmental Health Service Delivery (2001-2006) is to develop model approaches to improving decentralized health service delivery by Cuban local authorities. The project is assisting Cuba’s National Environmental Health Unit (UNSA) and selected local governments within the Province of Sancti Spíritus in undertaking participatory and coordinated approaches to improving the delivery of environmental health services in their territories, thereby contributing to a better quality of life for their residents. It involves participatory planning for environmental health service delivery, capacity development of local health service providers and communities and environmental health education.
Funding Agency:
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canadian Partnership Branch, a component of the CUI’s International Partnership Program for Good Urban Governance (IPPGUG).
Timeframe:
2001-2006
Geographic Focus:
The geographic focus is the province of Sancti Spíritus in Central Cuba located about 400 km east of Havana. The pilot projects are taking place in the popular councils of Las Nuevas and Los Olivos, with the participation of central government agencies located in Havana.
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Want
more information?
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Latest
narrative report |
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International Partnership Program for Good Urban Governance
2001-2006. Annual Progress Report - April 03–March
04
For more information, contact the CUI's International
Programs Office at cui@canurb.com |
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| Learning from the Walkerton disaster: the Honourable Dennis O’Connor (centre) meets with Cuban local government and health officials to discuss the Walkerton Inquiry (Toronto, 2002) |
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Project Partners
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National Environmental Health Unit (UNSA – Unidad Nacional de Salud Ambiental), an agency of the Cuban Ministry of Health charged with establishing, controlling and enforcing the nation’s health and sanitary regulations as these pertain to the health of the population. |
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Ministry of Health’s National Centre for Health Education and Promotion (CNPES) |
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Local partners include municipal governments of La Sierpe and Sancti Spiritus and popular councils of Las Nuevas and Los Olivos, with the participation of public enterprises and agencies located in the territories, citizens, family doctors and nurses. |
A community mobilized: a project sponsored health fair raises awareness and action on environmental health issues (Las Nuevas, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, 2003) |
Background
Sancti Spíritus province has one of the highest morbidity rates of digestive transmission diseases (DTD) in the nation. Difficult and persistent social problems such as DTD are caused by a combination of environmental health factors that are beyond the capability of local government and their sectorally structured administrations to solve alone. Municipal governments are budgeted by the central government and unable to raise their own revenue. They have been strapped to maintain adequate social services, particularly those dealing with drinking water, sewer treatment and waste disposal. Acute diarrheal diseases place the second highest demand on health services in Cuba, second only to acute respiratory infections. Their causes can be traced in most instances to adverse environmental health facilities, particularly poor drinking water and improper waste treatment. In a health system burdened by a shortage of resources, reducing transmission of digestive diseases becomes an important means of lowering costs and improving the quality of health service delivery.
Project Description
The aim of this project is to assist Cuba’s National Environmental Health Unit (UNSA) and selected local governments within the Province of Sancti Spíritus in undertaking participatory and coordinated approaches to improving the delivery of environmental health services in their territories, thereby contributing to a better quality of life for their residents.
The overall objectives of the project are to:
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Assist UNSA, local governments and other stakeholders in formulating and implementing participatory and holistic strategies that address the delivery of health services and environmental restoration of selected municipalities in Central Cuba. |
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Reduce the incidence of acute diarrheal diseases through improvements in the quality of drinking water, handling of foods and disposal of wastes in target areas. |
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Develop and strengthen national and international networks to disseminate best practices and new knowledge on good governance, environmental protection and delivery of social services resulting from this project. |
Approach
Only through national-local government strategic collaboration, inter-sectoral teamwork among the various local administrations, participation of local civil society and increased public consciousness of environmental health issues can social conditions be transformed permanently and basic social service delivery be significantly improved. Accordingly, the project consists of three activity components:
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Participatory planning for local social service delivery, involving participatory strategy development for environmental health intervention and the implementation of selected demonstration projects |
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Capacity development and strengthening of local social service providers |
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Communication and dissemination, involving environmental education, health education, community participation and the sharing of best practices and lessons learned to national and regional audiences. |
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