EARTH SUMMIT+5 Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda 21 New York, 23-27 June 1997 PROGRAMME FACT SHEETS

	Environmental Health Human Resources Development
	Responsible Organization(s)	Office of Global and Integrated Environmental Health (EHG), World Health Organization, WHO; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
	Description	Human resources development is an integral part of national capacity building and a key component of the EHG programme. In collaboration with national counterparts, EHG has been involved in the development of training activities which address priority needs. These activities include the following: the promotion of systematic, priority-based planning of human resources development at national level; the development of guidelines, curriculum and educational materials; the presentation of training programmes on specific content areas and teacher training; and network-building to support environmental health professionals and teachers in the field.
	Issues addressed	To develop sustainable educational infrastructures (e.g., curricula; educational materials; environmental health reference collections; trained teachers; networks of professionals, etc.)
	Objectives	To develop the required human resources in each country to assess and manage current and future priority local environmental health problems. To develop national capacity to create and monitor a national HDR strategy for environmental health. To increase national capacity to develop cirricula on environmental health and utilize innovative and effective teaching approaches. To develop appropriate infrastructures to sustain HRD planning and environmental health teaching initiatives.
	Results achieved	The development and implementation of a field approach to National Planning for Human Resources Development in Environmental and Occupational Health and specific implementation strategies in three countries: Mexico, Cuba and South Africa. The production of guidelines based on the above-mentioned country projects, Experiences in Human Resources Development Planning in Environmental and Occupational Health, to assist planning initiatives in other countries. The production of a text and teacher's guide on Basic Environmental Health to promote and support environmental health teaching in universities, both in and outside the health disciplines. Presentation of three Teacher Training Workshops on Basic Environmental Health for teachers from Central and Eastern Europe. A similar national workshop for South Africa and a regional workshop for Asia-Pacific copuntries are planned for 1997. The establishment of Global Networks in Environmental Health: the Global Environmental Epidemiology Network (GEENET), the Global Environmental Technology Network (GETNET) and the Global Health and Environment Library Network (GELNET).
	Lessons learned	Intersectoral planning remains a challenge. The commitment of high-level decision-makers must be secured at the inception of the planning effort. Training on HRD planning should be provided to decision-makers in relevant sectors, including health, environment, economic and university.
	Financing	United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), USA; and WHO regular budget.
	Contact	Dr. Tord Kjellstrom, Director Office of Global and Integrated Environmental Health World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, Tel: (41-22) 791-3760 - Fax: (41-22) 791-4123 Ms. Merri Weinger, Educational Specialist Office of Global and Integrated Environmental Health WHO.