Capacity Building for Evidence-Based Environmental Health in Peru

How can decision makers obtain and use evidence to promote environmental health in developing countries? And, what is the role of international partnerships in higher education in advocating for evidence-based public health practices that meet local needs? Although we live in a globalized world with ever growing means to exchange scientific information, developing countries still lag behind in their capacity to generate and use scientific evidence for program development and policymaking. This is the case of Peru where evidence-based public health efforts are facing major challenges including decision makers that often fail to adequately use scientific data to support public decisions in environmental health. The presenter will explain: (a) the design, methods, and implementation of a training project, the first of its kind, to build capacity for evidence-based decision making to prevent disease and protect the environment in Peru; (b) project evaluation results; and (c) the role of a partnership between a U.S.-based university and a Peruvian university in advocating for the use of evidence for better environmental health decisions. The project's description will focus on the health problems related to the contamination of air, water, and soil from mining, smelting, and waste disposal in La Oroya and the Mantaro valley in Central Peru. Recommendations will be presented for fostering local capacity for evidence-based environmental health in Peru and similar countries through international partnerships in higher education, with special attention to the participation of local leaders and community organizations in addressing environmental inequities.