Policy planning and project management newsletter

Publishing of this online newsletter is supported by the Policy Analysis and Planning Unit of the Ministry of Health, Belmopan, Belize. In this issue, "Special points of interest" are listed as, Salud Mesoamerica Initiative and Zika. Its next issue is October 3, 2016.

Survey of container breeding mosquito larvae (Dengue vector) in Salvapan and Las Flores

Dengue is one of the most important vector borne diseases, with millions of cases occurring yearly and with billions found in risk areas. Eliminating water-holding containers where mosquitoes oviposit and develop can help manage urban disease-vector mosquitos. Thus, a water holding container eradication campaign was implemented by the Ministry of Health of Belize to eliminate the outburst of a dengue epidemic in known risk areas. A study was conducted in two selected communities, Salvapan and Las Flores, to determine the preferred container breeding habitat of the dengue vector and which of the site is more susceptible to a dengue epidemic. A number of households per site were randomly selected and a survey was carried out to identify water-holding containers breeding mosquito larvae and to identify the dengue vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Mosquito larvae from different types of artificial and natural containers were collected and were identified using taxonomical keys. Aedes aegypti was the most abundant species in 74% of positive containers (water tanks, buckets, waste tire, etc). Culex spp. with 13%, Aedes albopictus with 12%, and Anopheles spp. with 0.48% in positive containers. The most abundant positive container was the bucket with 31% out of all positive containers. Twenty-six percent of the houses in Salvapan were positive compared to the thirty-seven percent in Las Flores. The study concluded that the dengue vector preferred breeding habitat was the bucket and that Las Flores is more prone to a dengue epidemic than Salvapan.(AU)

Health promotions: issues and answers

In recent years, increased attention has been given to the development of health promotion programmes in a number of countries worldwide. Although health promotion itself is not new, a number of issues have been emerged as the underlying concepts are articulated and put into practice. These relate to its relevance and ownership and to practical issues such as measurement of outcomes. This article provides a brief discussion on some of these issues and makes reference to Caribbean framework for implementing health promotion (AU)

Environmental health: catching up with the developed world

Environmental health is the ecological balance that must exist between man and his environment in order to ensure his well being. This paper describes the range of environmental hazards (physical, biological, chemical and social) and discusses the differences in level and quality of environmental health programmes between developed and developing countries. The hazards are the same in both realms; the difference is in the level of advocacy and, thus, the demand for implementation of sound environmental health policies and practices. Issues which developing countries need to address to improve environmental health management are outlined.(AU)

Annual report of the Chief Medical Officer for the years 1994-1996

The annual report of the Chief Medical Officer gives an overview of the activities of the Ministry of Health for the years 1994-1996. It aims to provide reliable information on the health situation and the health care system in Barbados during this period.

Leading Pan American Health: quadrennial report of the director, 1994-1997

The report seeks to describe the impact of our work over the past four years and to determine to what extent we have contributed to the progress in health that the countries of the Americas have made. The overeaching problem for health in the Americas continues to be inequity. It is this concern for equity that links all of our activities to the goal of Health for All, which holds equity as its essential value system. This goal has been interpreted by us as a call for social justice and a removal of those barriers that have risen to block the sun from the large numbers of humanity who most need it... (Director) The region of the Americas has scored major achievements in the area of health, as the result of the countries' collective will to tackle, together, their health challenges. This publication recounts recent progress the countries and the Organization have made in the areas of health and human development, disease prevention and control, health systems and service development, health promotion and protection, and environmental protection and development (back cover)

The integration of health and environment in national planning for sustainable development in Saint Lucia

States that the methodology adopted for undertaking this analysis is to consider the status of environmental health problems by analysing the performance of the various institutions responsible for administering environmental health problems (AU)

Environmental health legislation in Jamaica

This study looks at environmental health issues in Jamaica and in particular the legal and institutional framework for environmental management in Jamaica. The current and future role of ECD in environmental management is the main focus of the study. The relationship of ECD to the other agencies is also examined

Ecotourism and health tourism in the Caribbean

Sees the region as having a great potential for ecotourism, however the environment must be preserved and concept of sustainable development must be central to the success of such ventures. Acknowledges that the region has particular advantages in health and tourism and this should be part of the ecotourism investment package. (AU)