amman, jordan 27-29 october 1992 - world health …...who-em/ceha/58-e report on the third...

WHO-EM/CEHA/58-E

REPORT ON THE

THIRD CONSULTATIVE GROUP MEETING ON CEHANET

Amman, Jordan 27-29 October 1992

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean

Centre for Environmental Health Activities Amman, Jordan

March 1993

CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • i

SUMMARY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ii

1. INTRODUCTION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1

2. OPENING CEREMONY ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1

3 . ELECTION OF OFFICERS ..••••••..•.••••••..••••.•....••• 1

4. MEETING STRUCTURE AND COMPONENTS •••••..••.•••..•.••.. l

4.1 Meeting papers .................................... 1 4. 2 Countey papers . ...............•...••............. 2 4.3 Oiscussions •••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••• 2

5. SUMMARIES OF PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ••..••.•••• 2

5.1 status report on CEHANET ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2 5.2 Proposals for phase three of CEHANET

1993-1995 •••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3

5.3 Development of CEHA's technical focal points ........................................... 3

5.4 New WHO Global Strategy for Health and Environment and Support to Agenda 21 •.••••••••••• 5

5.5 Networking considerations and techniques: Environmental Sanitation Information Network (ENSICNET) with the Coordinating Centre at the Library and Regional Documentation Centre (LRDC) of the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok ••••••••••••.•••• 6

5.6 Sustainability of CEHANET •••••••••••••••••••••••• 6 5.7 Experience and future prospects of

collaboration between Abdul Hamid Shoman Foundation (AHSF) and CEHANET ••••.••••••••••••••• 7

5.8 National resource centres for research, development and technology transfer in water and sanitation •••••••••••••••••••••.••••••• 7

6. COUNTRY PAPERS •••••••.•.•••.....•••••.•••••••.•.••••. 8

6. 1 Phase one . ...............•..•.....••............. 8

a) Eg-ypt .•••••...•••..••.••••••..•••••..•.•.•..•• 8 b) Jordan .. ••..•...••..••..••.••••......•...••..• 8 c) Oman •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 d) Sudan ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 9 e) Syrian Arab Republic •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 9

7.

8.

6.2 Phase two •.•••.•.•••.••••••••.•••••••••••••.••••• 9

a) cyprus ......................................... 9 b) Iran, Islamic Republic of ••••••••••••••••••• 10 c) Yemen • ••••••••••••••• • •••• • • • • • • • •••••••• • ••• 10

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ••.•••••••••••••••••• 10

CLOSING SESSION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 16

Annexes

1. Agenda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

2. Programme •••••••••••• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 18

J. List of Participants ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 20

4. List of Background Documents .•••••••••••••••••• 23

CO-ROM . .

CEHA

CEHANET . .

EMRO .

IDRC

IRC

NCC .

NFA . .

TFP .

UNEP

WHO .

WHO-EM/CEHA/58-E Page i

ABBREVIATIONS

Compact Disk/Read-Only Memory

Regional Centre for Environmental Health Activities, Amman, Jordan

CEHA's Environmental Health Regional Information Network

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office

International Development Research centre, Ottawa, Canada

International water and sanitation Centre, The Hague, The Netherlands

CEHANET National Collaborating Centre

CEHANET National Focal Agency

CEHA's Technical Focal Point

United Nations Environment Programme

World Health organization

WHO-EM/CEHA/58-E Page ii

SUMMARY

The Third Consultative Group Meeting on CEHANET held on 27-29 October 1992, in Amman, Jordan, discussed and made recommendations on all the items of the agenda, including the progress made in the second phase of the project, CEHANET workplan up to the end of this phase, inter-networking with other regional and international systems, sustainability of CEHANET, CEHANET's response to Agenda 21 and the project document for the third phase of the project.

The meeting was organized by WHO/CEHA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Jordan, and was attended by eight participants from eight countries, three technical staff members of CEHA, one staff from WHO Headquaters and four consultants and temporary advisers.

1. INTRODUCTION

WHO-EM/CEHA/58-E Page 1

The Third Consultative Group Meeting on CEHANET was held in the Conference Hall of CEHA from 27 to 29 October 1992, in Amman, Jordan; the meeting was organized by the Regional Centre for Environmental Health Activities (CEHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Jordan.

The agenda and the programme of the meeting are in Annex 1 and Annex 2 respectively, and a list of participants is in Annex J.

2 • OPENING CEREMONY

The meeting was opened by Dr H. El-Baroudi, WHO Coordinator in CEHA, with a message from Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, Regional Director for WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

In his message, Dr Gezairy expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Government of Jordan for its support to CEHA and CEHANET. He thanked the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, for its support to CEHANET in its second phase. Reviewing the progress made since launching phase two of the CEHANET project, Dr Gezairy emphasized that the objectives of this phase were to expand the geographic coverage of the network and to strengthen CEHANET national focal agencies and collaborating centres. This meeting had come about as a result of the realization of the fact that CEHANET has reached a milestone in its development, and a decision as to the direction in which it has to proceed is to be made concerning sustainability of the service, geographic expansion of the network, implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding and use of information technology.

Dr H. El-Baroudi explained the objectives of the meeting, and emphasized that the evaluation by the participants on the progress made by CEHANET would help in planning the future of the network.

J • ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Mr Hassan as Chairman. Dr meeting.

Salmanmanesh, Islamic Republic of Iran, was elected N. Al-Shorbaji (CEHA) acted as Rapporteur of the

4 • MEETING STRUCTURE AND COMPONENTS

4.1 Meeting papers

Papers setting out the purpose of the meeting, status report on the progress of CEHANET, CEHANET workplan, sustainability of CEHANET, collaboration between CEHANET and other regional and international networks and integration of CEHANET into WHO global network projects were presented by the Members of the Secretariat.

4.2 country papers


Each country representative presented a paper describing joint activities of the national focal agency (NFA) of his or her country and CEHANET, in addition to the services provided by CEHANET through the NFA (see Section 6) .

The documents presented at the meeting are listed in Annex 4. Summaries of the papers presented and of the discussions that followed the presentation are in Section 5.

4.3 • Discussions

The presentation of each paper was followed by a discussion, in addition to general discussions that followed country papers, and the discussions influenced the formulation of conclusions and recommendations.

5. SUMMARIES OF PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

This section includes summaries of the development, status, plans of CEHANET and papers collaboration with other networks/agencies.

5.1 Status report on CEHANET

papers on the concerning its

Or Najeeb Al-Shorbaji presented the paper containing the aims, objectives and the initial workplan of CEHANET, in the second phase. The paper presented highlights of the achievements during phase one of the project, which constitute the basis for the·development of phase two. The paper reviewed the achievements made by the project since the start of phase two on 1 April 1991. These included six appraisal missions to countries in phase two namely; Cyprus, Islamic Republic of Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, technical cooperation missions to the Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan and Pakistan, convening of the Third Regional Workshop on CEHANET Procedures, the First Intercountry Workshop for the Training of CEHANET Trainers, national training courses on CEHANET procedures in Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Sudan and Syrian Arab Republic, publication of the Training course on Environmental Health Information Networking and services and of the English/Arabic volume of the Interwater Thesaurus, updating of the Regional Directory of Environmental Health Professionals and Institutions, access of environmental health databases on CD-ROM (compact disc-read only memory) , development of CEHA's Local Area Network, provision of information services and development of CEHA's Documentation Unit.

Discussion

The discussion emphasized:

that took place after the presentation

the degree of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding by NFAs:

5.2


the need to sign Memorandum of Understanding with CEHANET collaborating centres to complete the structure of CEHANET at the national level and then at the regional level: information and CEHANET and the services: and

document delivery services provided by role of NFAs in the promotion of these

the implementation national centres.

of CEHANET systems

Proposals for phase three of CEHANET 1993-1995

and tools by

Dr N. Al-Shorbaji presented a document prepared for internal use and discussion at the meeting. The document was prepared taking into consideration the new WHO Global Strategy for Health and Environment after the "Earth Summit" in June 1992. Specific objectives of this phase included the development of a financially sustainable information service, expansion of the geographic coverage of CEH.ANET to the countries in EMR not covered by the two phases, expansion of CEHANET services to cover sector statistics and development activities, assessment of information needs, strengthening of CEHANET national centres, promotion of information for decision-making, and forging links with regional and international information networks. The document included a list of suggested activities within the framework of phase three.

Discussion

The discussion that followed the presentation emphasized the following:

strengthening of the role of CEHANET national focal agencies and national collaborating centres in the development of the network: integration of documentation and information services into management information: identification of user needs and provision of appropriate information sources and format; and achieving a balance between the development of systems and tools and the provision of information services.

5.3 Development of CEHA's technical focal points

Dr H. El-Baroudi technical focal points development.

presented (TFPs),

CEHA's strategy to in conjunction with

identify CEHANET

The CEH.ANET national focal agencies (NFAs) and national collaborating centres (NCCs) should be fully associated with the task of locating all professionals and institutions/agencies/universities/ centres, etc., in their respective countries. This is a very important role for CEHANET, NFAs and NCCs, as per the memoranda of understanding between CEHA and the NFAs.


All environmental health institutions/professionals interviewed by the CEHANET Information Scientist during his appraisal missions to 14 Member States in the EMR should be followed up for inclusion in the Regional Directory of Environmental Health Professionals and Institutions before further consideration is given for acting as TFPs.

CEHANET national collaborating centres have capabilities in networking and information exchange, but may also qualify for being technical focal points. CEHANET national focal agencies, while seeking CEHANET national collaborating centres for information support, should identify those centres that could qualify them to become technical focal points.

An environmental health institution can be a technical focal point in more than one function (training, research, etc.) and in more than one area (air pollution, solid waste, etc. ) .

Financial support by CERA to agencies which are carrying out the survey of institutions and TFPs may be in the form of Contractual Services Agreements (CSA) or reimbursement of actual expenses, such as costs of communication, transportation, administration, etc.

Special efforts should be made to make institutions and professionals aware of the existence of NFAs/NCCs/TFPs in their own countries, and in other countries.

For implementing this strategy, CEHA developed a new survey form for institutions and technical focal points (including summary of activities) and one-page outline for criteria and the role of TFPs. The following action plan is now being undertaken:

1) In countries where CEHANET NFAs have already been established (seven) , a request was made to each NFA to assist CERA in its national coverage of environmental health institutions and TFPs. NFAs were provided with a stock of forms and copies of criteria.

2) In respect of those countries where no NFAs have yet been established (six), but were visited by the CEHANET Information Scientist in the phase two of the CEHANET project, CEHA is initiating contacts with institutions qualified and identified in the appraisal mission reports.

J) Institutions in the remaining countries are identified for CEHA's databases, participants' records, personal contacts, etc., and are approached directly.

4) CEHA should formulate approaches for supporting the development of NFAs/NCCs/TFPs in order to enhance their information and technical role in promoting environmental health, in collaboration with CEHA.


Discussion

The discussion that followed the presentation emphasized:

overlap in the role of TFPs and that of NFAs/NCCs; involvement of the NFAs in the identification and selection of TFPs; and CEHA's support to development of TFPs.

5.4 New WHO Global Strategy for Health and Environment and Support to Agenda 21

Mr I. Ahman presented the strategy with a special reference to the information support and capacity-building in the field of information exchange. The various information-related activities, including the Environmental Health Management Information System, of WHO Headquaters were presented, which is seen as a framework for coordination of other information systems and activities for environmental health. The overall objectives of the system are to:

assist countries develop their national capacities for management of information on environmental health; assist countries in building up national capabilities to collect relevant data from different environmental health sectors: develop a central repository to activities to direct users of appropriate sources of information information dissemination; and

monitor information information to the

and to facilitate

enable WHO to adapt a more integrated approach environmental health issues, while maintaining expertise in different sectors.

to its

The existing information systems and networks, including GEMS, WASAMS, EHMDAC, HEALS, PEEM, GEENET, GETNET, GELNET and GEDNET, were reviewed and EHMDAC was demonstrated to the participants.

Integration of CEHANET into these importance for successful implementation level in the EHR.

systems was of prime of these at the regional

Discussion

The discussion that followed the presentation emphasized the following:

methods to increase environmental health professionals' access to WHO global networks; integration of information services at Headquarters level into CEHANET information services; and support from WHO Headquarters to strengthen CEHANET and to enhance its development.

5.5


Networking considerations and techniques; Environmental Sanitation Information Network (ENSICNETl with coordinating Centre at Library and Regional Documentation Centre CLRDCl of the Asian Institute of Technology. Bangkok

Mr A. Vespry, in his paper, introduced the concept of information networks, stressing the needs of users and their satisfaction, not only at the end-user level, but also at the level of network members. Benefits to be gained by cooperative efforts in national, regional and international networks were emphasized in the paper.

The paper described ENSICNET from its phase one in 1991, and the activities of the up the network, namely; China, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

inception to the end of six countries that make Nepal, Pakistan, the

Areas of collaboration between CEHANET and ENSICNET were proposed and they included:

exchange of publications; advance notification of meetings and invitations to attend each other's meetings; organization of a joint meeting in Pakistan (as a common country between the two networks); exchange of databases; collaboration in further development of the Interwater Thesaurus; exchange of mailing lists; and access to ENSICNET microfiche collection.

Discussion

The discussion that followed the presentation emphasized the collaboration between CEHANET and ENSICNET.

5.6 Sustainability of CEHANET

Mr M. A. Itayem presented a paper in which he considered the various options available for CEHANET to maintain its presence and to sustain its development. Sustainability of the services included the document delivery service, which in itself has prerequisites to ensure the availability and accessibility of information through CEHANET. For financial sustainability of the network, a charge system was considered as a model to be used with the provision that CEHANET NFAs and NCCs will accept it and participate in it. Another dimension of sustainability, namely the sustainability of the network through the. application of its systems and tools, was emphasized in the paper. It was argued that application of standard systems and tools will ensure continuity and preserve uniformity among all participating institutions.

Discussion


The discussion that followed the presentation concentrated on the viability and mechanism of applying the proposed charge system. Questions were raised as to who will pay for the initial cost of running the system. The charge system was seen to require additional staff for bookkeeping and accounting, not only at CEHA but in the national centres as well.

5.7 Experience and future prospects of collaboration between Abdul Hamid Shoman Foundation CAHSF) and CEHANET

Mr G. Abdullah presented, in this paper, the history of collaboration between CEHANET and AHSF. Highlights of this collaboration included the assistance provided to CEHANET to develop the arabicized version of the Interwater Thesaurus, exchange of documents, and the direct on-line computer link between CEHA and the Foundation. CEHA provided AHSF with three personal computers for use in the computer library.

Future prospects for collaboration include making the Interwater Thesaurus and CEHANET' s database permanently available on AHSF's computer for external use, which would require some additional hardware to be provided by CEHA. AHSF may act as an NCC for CEHANET and thus open up opportunities for training and exchange of services by both parties.

5.8 National resource�centres for research. development and technology transfer in water and sanitation

Mr H. van Damme presented the IRC's approach to developing national resource centres for research, development and technology transfer. Four major issues were considered: appropriateness of the technology, existence of capacities, comprehensiveness and communication and the cost involved. The paper emphasized that communication is a major factor in the process of technology transfer and development. At a later stage, when a certain type of technology is developed or adopted, the translation of information into knowledge is essential for the proper implementation of this technology. It was argued that development of national capacity in information, research, communication and knowledge enhancement in technology development and transfer will lead to decisions grounded better on technology application, greater efficiency of project operation, greater effectiveness of project outputs, and multiplication of efforts at the country level. Since communication has been identified as the missing link in the development process and sustainability, the resource centre in the country has a major role to play. It will be the mechanism to identify the needs and to provide the service. It will be in a position to initiate the muchneeded communications culture in the sector and to undertake actions accordingly.

Discussion


The discussion that followed the presentation emphasized the identification of information needs and provision of information services that serve the needs. The individual professional should be the focus of the information system. Information packages and products should be designed to solve specific problems in the field. Time constraints and barriers to access information at the country level should be considered when developing an information product.

6 COUNTRY PAPERS

Two groups of country the countries in phase one countries of phase two.

papers were presented: one related to of the project, and the other included

6.1

a)

Phase one

Egypt

CEHANET and its NFA in Egypt were services provided by CEHANET to

the Egyptian National Science and These included:

The joint activities of presented, in addition to the Egyptian professionals through Technology Information Network.

signing of a Memorandum of Understanding; participation in CEHANET regional workshops; organization of a CEHANET national training course; exchange of bibliographic data; exchange of data on professionals; distribution of CEHA and CEHANET documents; and information and document delivery service.

b) Jordan

The joint activities of CEHANET and its NFA in Jordan, in addition to the services provided by CEHANET to Jordanian professionals through the Royal Scientific Society, were presented. These included:

c) Oman

signing of a Memorandum of Understanding: participation in CEHANET regional workshops; organization of a CEHANET national training course; exchange of bibliographic data; exchange of data on professionals; distribution of CEHA and CEHANET documents; information and document delivery services; and other CEHA activities.

The following activities by CEHANET in Oman were presented:

visit by an appraisal mission to identify a NFA and NCCs;

d) Sudan


participation in CEHANET regional workshops; exchange of bibliographic data; exchange of data on professionals; distribution of CEHA and CEHANET documents; and information and document delivery service.

The �oint activities of CEHANET and its NFA in Sudan were presented, in addition to the services provided by CEHANET to Sudanese professionals through the National Documentation Centre, and included:

e)

signing of a Memorandum of Understanding; appraisal mission to identify a NFA and Nees: participation in CEHANET regional workshops; organization of a CEHANET national training course: assessment of needs of national centres for strengthening of these: exchange of bibliographic data; exchange of data on professionals: distribution of CEHA and CEHANET documents; and information and document delivery service.

Syrian Arab Republic

The joint activities of CEHANET and its NFA were presented, in addition to the services provided by CEHANET to Syrian professionals through the Assad National Library. These included:

6.2

a)

signing of a Memorandum of Understanding; appraisal mission to identify a NFA and NCCs; participation in CEHANET regional workshops; organization of a CEHANET national training course; assessment of needs of national centres for strengthening of these; exchange of bibliographic data; exchange of data on professionals; distribution of CEHA and CEHANET documents; and information and document delivery service.

Phase two

cyprus

CEHANET activities in cyprus, included:

visit of an appraisal mission to identify a NFA and NCCs; participation in CEHANET regional workshops: distribution of CEHA and CEHANET documents; information and document delivery service; collection of bibliographic data; and collection of data on professionals.

b)


Islamic Republic of Iran

The following CEHANET activities in the Islamic Republic of Iran included:

c) Yemen

appraisal mission to identify a NFA and NCCs; participation in CEHANET regional workshops: conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding; distribution of CEHA and CEHANET documents; information and document delivery service; collection of bibliographic data; and collection of data on professionals.

CEHANET activities in Yemen included:

appraisal mission to identify a NFA and NCCs; participation in CERA.NET regional workshops; distribution of CEHA and CEHANET documents; information and document delivery service; collection of bibliographic data; and collection of data on professionals.

The paper also presented the information capabilities and plans of the Environmental Protection Council to develop a national information system for environmental health in the country.

7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusion 1

The participants reviewed and evaluated the progress made by CEHANET since it was launched in February 1988, and expressed their appreciation and satisfaction with the achievements of CEHANET, in terms of quantity and quality. It was recognized that the CEHANET should continue to exist and should be developed and that the experience gained through the implementation of its activities could be utilized by other WHO regions.

The participants expressed appreciation to the Government of Jordan for its continued support to CEHA and CEHANET.

Recommendations

(1) CEHANET should proceed to development plan to cover Eastern Mediterranean Region experience of earlier phases.

the phase three of its all the countries of the WHO

taking into account the


(2) Phase three of CEHANET should be developed and executed within the framework of the new WHO Global Strategy for Health and Environment which is based on the recommendations of the WHO Commission on Health and Environment and Agenda 21 produced by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) .

conclusion 2

The value of information in management and for decision-making has been reflected in the UNCED. The new systemwide goal in the area of health and environment and the corresponding "strategic actions 11

correspond to the requirements of chapter 40 on "Information for Decision-Making" in Agenda 2 1 and the requirements concerning information as stated in WHA Resolution 45.3.

Recommendations

(3) Activities of phase three of CEHANET should respond to the strategy's objective of supporting information management and the corresponding "strategic actions" to be undertaken at regional and national levels. CEHANET should also support improved mechanisms for the access to, and exchange of, programme information at all levels as a major requirement in the implementation of the new strategy. It should also facilitate exchange of information not only of WHO activities, but also those of countries, other UN organizations and external support agencies.

(4) CEHA should work jointly with WHO Headquaters, using system models which form part of the overall information framework of the Strategy, such as EHMDAC (Environmental Health Information for Management of Development Activities) on development activities, WASAMS (Water and Sanitation Monitoring System) on statistics in the water supply and sanitation sector and other existing or planned systems within the framework.

(5)

(6)

CEHA should responsibility adaptation of EMR.

assume a leading role and regional for the further development, modification/ these systems to make them useful in the

Closer working between CEHANET Documentation) in may function as in the EMR.

relationships should be established and EHMOOC (Environmental Health the area of "documentation". CEHANET

an implementation tool for this project

conclusion 3

Capacity-building and strengthening of national institutions constitute the major thrust of Agenda 2 1, (Chapter 40 on "Information for Decision-Making") .

Recommendations


(7) In addition to ongoing documentation work, the implementation of management information and sector statistical information systems should be incorporated in CEHANET activities. Work should be carried out on the EHMDAC system, as well as specific statistical model systems such as WASAMS within a framework of support to national capacity-building, based on institutional support, advisory services and training programmes.

(8) EHMDAC, which is part of the Environmental Health Management Information System, should be used as an entry point to support integration and coordination among different sectors and subsectors which are defined under the concept of Health and Environment. The work of supporting the implementation of integrated management information systems using EHMDAC will be based on national and regional workshops organized by CEHA through the support of WHO Headquarters.

(9) CEHA should consider the development and strengthening of information exchange capabilities of Member states as an integral part of phase three of the CEHANET project.

(10) Joint government/WHO programme review missions (JPRMs) should include, as far as possible, environmental health advisers to promote environmental health programmes, including CEHA and CEHANET. Similarly, the Regional Office should request the ministries of health to include environmental health experts in their teams.

Conclusion 4

Assessment of user-needs in the sector is a prerequisite for better planning, administration and implementation of information support activities undertaken by CEHANET.

Recommendations

(11) All activities in the field of management information and of statistical information systems for particular sectors should be based on studies of user-needs.

(12) CEHANET should undertake studies and assessment of user-needs on a regional scale in order to identify needs and provide services accordingly.

(13) CEHA should support national focal agencies to conduct surveys of needs at the country level.

Conclusion 5


It is recognized that CEHANET services have expanded to include the development of systems and tools, particularly the CEHANET Procedures Manual and the Interwater Thesaurus, in addition to the provision of regional bibliographic and non-bibliographic databases. Geographic expansion of CEHANET will cover all EMR

countries and will take into account the new WHO Global Strategy for Health and Environment.

Recommendations

(14) WHO should strengthen and support CEHA information exchange capabilities to cope with these developments based on needs and requirements at the country level.

(15) CEHA should help the development of information facilities at country level, balancing structure (systems/tools) and information services within CEHANET.

(16) CEHA should make use of the new developments in information technology and telematics. Special reference is made to on-line access of CEHA databases.

(17) CEHA should develop strategies for interfacing with information systems within WHO and other regional and international agencies. Joint activities in the EMR should be planned and executed in collaboration with these agencies and information systems. Examples include ENSICNET of the Asian Institute of Technology, and INFOTERRA of the United Nations Environment Programme, the IRC-International Water and Sanitation Centre and the World Bank.

conclusion 6

CERA, as the developer and the coordinating body of CEHANET, has the primary role of development, adaptation and distribution of systems, tools and other standard procedures to be used by national focal agencies and collaborating centres.

Recommendations

(18) CEHA should make the optimal utilization of CD-ROM contents to national centres.

(19) CEHA should develop, publish and distribute systems and tools. Particular reference is made to the Arabic/ French Interwater Thesaurus and the CEHANET Procedures Manual.

(20) CEHA should develop standard packages for use at regional and national levels and initiate activities for:


promotion of information use: marketing of information services; user-sensitization/education: and custom-made briefings.

(21) CERA should give priority to training of trainers as a means for better organization and implementation of CEHANET national training courses.

Conclusion 7

While the participants recognized the value and importance of the systems and tools which have been developed by CEHANET, it is believed that, parallel to this development, there is potential to provide information services to environmental health professionals in the countries. It is recognized that the ultimate goal of developing systems and tools is to provide better and more information and extension services.

Recommendations

(22) CEHA should develop information packages for use by professionals in the field. Consolidation of information is a key issue in this regard.

(23) CEHA, in collaboration with other WHO collaborating centres and CEHA' s institutional focal points, should develop field manuals for specific environmental health applications at the country level.

(24) CEHA should enhance its advisory services to cover all aspects of environmental health, especially in countries where resources are lacking.

(25) in collaboration with its NFAs, should develop, into consideration cultural and linguistic

promotional information material especially to serve specific needs at the country level.

CEHA, taking factors, designed

conclusion 8

As a decentralized information network, agencies of CEHANET have an instrumental role development, operation and promotion of the network.

the national focal to play in the

Recommendations

(26) The next meeting of the Consultative hosted by one of the active CEHANET agencies. The invitation by ENSTINET, positively considered by CEHA.

Group should be national focal Egypt, is to be


(27) National focal agencies were urged to implement the Memoranda of Understanding signed between them and CEHA. Initiation and implementation of CEHANET-related activities should be encouraged and supported by CEHA. They may include:

organization of national training courses on CEHANET procedures: assessment of information needs at the country level: impact assessment and evaluation of CEHANET services: organization of user sensitization activities: promotion of information use; and identification of environmental health institutions, technical focal points and resource persons for enhancing CEHA's role for regional technical networking and their information services.

(28) The national focal agencies identified in phase two of the project should sign, as soon as possible, the proposed Memoranda of Understanding.

(29) CEHA should stimulate the creation of an environmental health national information network through support to national focal agencies to sign Memoranda of Understanding with the identified national collaborating centres. CEHA should provide a model for such a memorandum.

(30) staffing of include both professionals environmental users.

conclusion 9

CEHANET national focal subject specialists

agencies should and information

extension of to potential

in order to secure health information services

Sustainability of CEHANET as a regional system for information exchange has received considerable attention from the participants. The increasing cost of information services and capacity-building was considered and it was felt that CEHA should look into means and innovative methods of covering the cost to make the services sustainable.

Recommendation

(31) CEHA, in collaboration with national focal agencies, should consider developing a cost-recovery system for information services, striking a balance between willingness to pay and the need to cover costs. A coupon system may be considered.


(32) CEHANET should develop links with other established information networks to make use of their experience in maintaining their systems and services. Link with ENSICNET may be an example of this collaboration.

8. CLOSING SESSION

The closing session was held on 29 October 1992. Dr H. El-Baroudi delivered the closing speech and Dr Salmanmanesh thanked the organizers on behalf of the participants for the excellent arrangement made for the meeting.


Annex 1

AGENDA

1 . Review of CEHANET development

2 . Objectives and plans for third phase of CEHANET project

3 . Potential sources of funds for CEHANET proj ect

4 . sustainability of CEHANET activities and services

5. Experiences of CEHANET national focal agencies : review of the status of Memorandum of Understanding

6 . Future prospects for informatics and telematics in the CEHANET system


Annex 2

PROGRAMME

Tuesday, 27 October 1992

08: 15 - 09:00

09:00 - 10:00

10: 30 - 10: 45

10 : 4 5 - 1 1 : 4 5

1 1 : 4 5 - 12 : 3 0

13 : 0 0 - 14 : 0 0

14 : 00 - 14 : 3 0

Registration

Opening ceremony

- Message of Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean

- Group photograph

Nomination of Chairman and Rapporteur Adoption of agenda and programme

New WHO Global strategy for Health and Environment, and Support to Agenda 21 , by Mr Ingvar Ahman

Review of CEHANET status and development, by Dr Najeeb Al-Shorbaji

Experience of the Asian Institute of Technology in Development of ENSICNET, by Mr Arthur Vespry

Discussion

Wednesday. 28 October 1992

08: 30 - 09:00

09: 00 - 10:00

10: 00 - 10: 30

11: 00 - 11: 30

11: 30 - 13:00

13: 30 - 14: 30

14: 30 - 15:00

Objectives and plans for phase three of CEHANET project, by Dr Najeeb Al-Shorbaji

EMDAC presentation, by Mr Ingvar Ahman

Discussion

Collaboration between IRC and CEHANET to develop information systems at country level , by Mr Hans Van Damme

Country papers from national focal agencies: Egypt , Jordan, Oman , Sudan and Syrian Arab Republic

Country papers from Phase two countries: cyprus, Islamic Republic of Iran and Yemen

Discussion


Thursday, 2 9 October 1992

08 : 30 - 09:00

09: 00 - 10:00

10: 00 - 10: 30

11: 00 - 12:00

12 :00 - 12: 30

Experience and future prospects of collaboration between Abdul Hamid Shoman Foundation and CEHANET, by Mr Ghassan Abdullah

sustainability of CEHANET as a regional information system, by Mr Mahmoud A. Itayem

Discussion

Discussion and finalization of recommendations and conclusions

Closing session


Annex 3

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

CYPRUS

Mr Georgios Violaris Senior Health Inspector Department of Medical and Public Health Services Ministry of Health Nicosia

EGYPT

Eng. Seif Rashed Deputy Director Egyptian National Scientific and Technical Information Network Academy of Scientific Research and Technology 101, Kasr El Aini Street Cairo

IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF

Eng. Hassan Salmanmanesh Director-General Environmental Health Department Ministry of Health and Medical Education Teheran

JORDAN

Dr Yousef Nusseir Director, Computer Technology Training and Industrial Studies Centre Royal Scientific Society Amman

OMAN

Mr Salim Bin Mohamed Al-Behlany Head, Water Supply and Sanitation Department of Environmental Health Ministry of Health P. O. Box 393 Muscat

SUDAN

Dr Cecil Wesley

WHO-EM/CEHA/58-E Page 2 1

Director, Documentation and Information Centre The National Centre for Research P .O . Box 2404 Khartoum

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

Miss Rima Jamous Assad National Library Damascus

YEMEN

Mr Hussein El-Gunaid secretary Environmental Protection Council Sana'a

Dr Hassan El-Baroudi WHO Coordinator

WHO Secretariat

Regional Centre for Environmental Health Activities ( CEHA) Amman Jordan

Dr Naj eeb Al-Shorbaj i Information Scientist CEHA

Dr Adnan Gur Information and Technology Transfer Adviser CEHA

Mr Ingvar Ahman Information Coordinator Division of Environmental Health WHO Geneva Switzerland

Mr Hans Van Damme WHO Temporary Adviser Director, International Water and Sanitation Centre P.O. Box 93 190 2509 AD The Hague The Netherlands

Mr Arthur Vespry WHO Temporary Adviser


Director, Library and Regional Documentation Centre Asian Institute of Technology P. O. Box 2754 Bangkok 10501 Thailand

Mr Ghassan Abdullah WHO Temporary Adviser Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation Amman Jordan

Mr Mahmoud A. Itayem WHO Temporary Adviser P. O. Box 520545 Amman Jordan

WHO-EM/CEHA/58-E Page 2J

Annex 4

LIST OF BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

1 . CEHA Progress Report , 1990-1991 (Arabic and English versions)

2. Agenda 2 1 : Chapter 40 - Information for Decision-Making

3. Cost Analysis of CEHANET Information and Document Del ivery Services

4. Health, Environment and Well-Being Under Agenda 2 1

Development: Strategies for Human