Eco-Health Project

February, 2007 

The IDRC funded research and development project, carried out by Urban Harvest researchers, aims to ameliorate the well being of marginalized people in the sub district of Ñaña within Lima Metropolitan and improve their natural and social environment. The project aims to incorporate an ‘ecohealth’ approach, implying that strong links between humans (their health) and the biophysical, social and economic environments exist. Thus, the state of the natural environment largely affects the state of health of humans and their social and economic environments. The project is being carried out in two small communities of around 60 households situated on the embankment of the Rimac River east of downtown Lima. Previous preliminary studies have shown that many children (the main focus group of the project) in the area suffer from diarrhea and other stomach ailments and it is believed that the main cause of this is derived from their water source. The research component of the project aims to investigate whether water contamination is a source of ill health among the community and to find other potential sources that could possibly affect their health. This will be carried out with a trans-disciplinary team: nutritionists, environmentalists and anthropologists, applying a gender perspective and participatory methods of research along with qualitative and specific biochemical analysis.

After the research component of the project has been completed and the biochemical and social-economical results have been analyzed, participatory methods will be applied to determine the specific means of intervention. The intervention will also include a participatory monitoring component and analysis to ensure the project not only is sustainable, but that the intervention method provided a positive impact to the community and improves the health of the two communities.

Objectives

Expected results