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ENVIRONMENT
AND HEALTH IN CHENNAI, INDIA: AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO MANAGING
THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
FOR HUMAN HEALTH
Bunch,
Martin J., V. Madha Suresh, Dana Wilson, Beth Finnis,
T. Vasantha Kumaran, Raj Murthy and Michael J. Jerrett “Environment
And Health In Chennai, India: An Ecosystem Approach To Managing
The Urban Environment For Human Health” in Martin J. Bunch,
V. Madha Suresh and T. Vasantha Kumaran, eds., Proceedings
of the Third International Conference on Environment and Health,
Chennai, India, 15-17 December, 2003. Chennai: Department
of Geography, University of Madras and Faculty of Environmental
Studies, York University. Pages 44 – 65.
Abstract:
This paper presents
the results of a workshop held in August 2002 in support of an
action-oriented program of research that adopts an ecosystem approach
to human health in Chennai, India. The workshop brought together
stakeholders and potential participants in the research program
in a collaborative environment to explore environment and health
relationships, identify key actors and stakeholders in managing
for human health, and develop a conceptual model of environment
and health in Chennai. The workshop also introduced the ecosystem
approach to workshop participants and explored the feasibility
of applying the approach in Chennai. This paper is intended to
highlight the use of a stakeholder workshop within an ecosystem
approach, as well as techniques employed in the workshop’s
working sessions. Influences on the workshop come from soft systems
methodology, adaptive management and participatory action research.
Working sessions were oriented to problem identification and framing,
system conceptualization and visioning. Workshop participants
developed a diagrammatic expression of environment and health
in Chennai known as a ‘rich picture.’ Important themes
in environment and health were drawn from this expression, such
as: slums as locations of most-vulnerable populations and objectionable
conditions; surface water quality and water bourne disease (e.g.,
typhoid, cholera, diarrhea, dysentery); public participation in
management of environment and health problems; and malaria. Workshop
participants also helped to identify a mixed-methods approach
to addressing these issues in slum areas. The workshop results
are now being used to direct the broader program of research.
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