1995-2002 Inter-American Healthy Housing Network

Programmatic Document

Ottawa Charter, (1986) Health Promotion

• A strategy emphasizing the creation of a healthy environment and the healthy modification of individual and collective lifestyles.

• It proposes as specific measures inter-sectoral coordination and the development of abilities for the individual and community.

• To reach the regional health objectives the following is proposed:– a health culture (values,

beliefs, attitudes and relationships) that would facilitate the creation of a healthy social and physical environment

– Prolong life and permit the maximum performance of social and individual capacities

PAHO Resolution XIV (Sept/93) Healthy Spaces

• Man faces/lives with a succession of environments or habitual scenarios in the cyclical course of life: housing, school, work, the city, the municipality

• Environmental management can reduce risk factors and can accentuate action from health promotion workers

• This management includes lifestyles, prevention, and control of risky behaviors

• It's a joint effort between different sectors and groups aimed at health promotion in a given environment

Healthy spaces as a strategy

• As spheres of activity in the municipality, the city, and the community, this strategy contributes to inter-sectoral action. It increases community participation in health actions, places importance on healthy public policies in the public agenda, and creates environments and surroundings that favor health and the construction of abilities, behaviors, and healthy lifestyles

Healthy Housing...is adequate housing that:

• Provides protection against avoidable injuries, poisonings, and thermal exposures (among other things) that can generate diseases or chronic illnesses

• Assists social and psychological development of people and minimizes psychological and social tensions related to the housing environment

• Provides access to workplaces, education, services and promotes a good state of health

Healthy Housing Initiative Mission

INCREASE THE LEVEL OF HEALTH FOR HOUSING RESIDENTS -- PROVIDE GREATER EDUCATION IN THE PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION, USE, AND MANAGEMENT OF HOUSING

SEEK THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF STRUCTURAL AND PERI-DOMICILIARY CONDITIONS THAT FAVOR MUCH HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES

HOUSING AS A BASIS FOR THE HEALTHY MUNICIPALITY INITIATIVE

Iniciativa VIVSALUD

Instruments Available for the Initiative

• The Inter-American Network of Healthy Housing: biennial plan

• Work of national networks: diagnostics, projects

• Reference Document• Regional Diagnostic • Web site for Network• Discussion List (VIVSALUD)• Virtual Forum (HIHFORUM)• REPINDEX on healthy

housing• Distance courses • “Healthy Housing” video• Multi-center Project:

Transmissible, Non- Transmissible diseases and Disasters

National Constituted (NC) Networks

HHC transforming into NN

NN under constitution phase

NN to be developed

The Inter-American Network: implementation of the healthy housing initiative

• 1987: WHO establishes principles and lines of action• 1995: PAHO promotes the creation of the Network• 1997: Basic Document• 1995 - 2002: Lessons learned advise readjusting

guidelines and structure• 2002: Programmatic Document

Events in the development of the Inter-American Healthy Housing Network (1)

• 1982 - Establishment of the Healthy Housing Center in Buffalo, NY

• 1992 - PAHO initiated joint activities with the Center in Buffalo. Identified participants in LAC.

• 1994 - PAHO worked jointly with the Buffalo Center to develop centers in university institutions in the LAC

• 1995 – The Inter-American Healthy Housing Centers Network is constituted

• 1996 - Meeting I of the Healthy Housing Centers Network Secretariat in Taxco, Mexico

Events in the development of the Inter-American Healthy Housing Network (2)

• 1997 - Meeting II of the Network in Havana Cuba: basic document formulated.

• 1998 - Meeting II of the Network Secretariat: Managua, Nicaragua

• 1999 - Meeting III of the Network in Mérida, Venezuela• 2000 - Meeting IV of the Network in Buffalo, USA• 2001 - Secretariat Meeting and Interagency meeting,

Washington D. C.• 2002 - Meeting V of the Network. Havana, Cuba: Change

of name and new programming document

Connections to other PAHO Initiatives and Programs

• Healthy cities• Healthy municipalities • Primary Environmental Care and citizen participation • Prevention and control of communicable and non-

communicable diseases • Health Promotion and Protection• Disaster Mitigation and Preparation• Mass Communication • Others

Lessons Learned

• The consolidation of the centers’ activity and that of the Network was reached in a more expeditious way to the extent that tasks and activities incorporated:– Inter-sectoral focus – Multi-disciplinary – Alliance in networks – Community participation

Refinement of the Network

• General experience led to a rethinking and readjustment of objectives and means for the created structure to guide the development of the healthy housing initiative in the countries of America.

Contents of the Programmatic Document (1)

• National Healthy Housing Networks• What is it?

• Requirements for creation

• Objectives

• Structure

• Functions

• Guidelines for work plans

• Policy

• Inter-American Healthy Housing Network• Definition

• Objective

• Integration of actions

• Structures

• Functions

• Guidelines for work plans

Contents of the Programmatic Document (2)

• Annex 1: Minimum requirements for the constitution of a National Network and its linkage to the Inter-American Healthy Housing Network (VIVSALUD Network)

• Annex 2: Organization and structure of the VIVSALUD Network

Contents of the Programmatic Document (3)

Practical Aspects: National Network Structure

National Administrative Council (NAC)

National Coordination Group (NCG)

Representatives of the LCGs and local representatives of Initiative partners

National Secretariat

- National Network Coordinator

- Secretary of finances and mobilization of resources

- Secretary of projects

- 3 to 6 additional members

Local Coordination Groups (LCGs)

Functions of the National Networks

• Among other things:– Improve quality of life in health – Expand offer of healthy housing– Promote community participation – Emphasize disease prevention – Human Resources Development – Better utilization of existing resources

Practical Aspects: Inter-American Network Structure

Regional Administrative Council (RAC)

Regional Coordination Group (RCG)

Representatives of the Initiative Partners

Regional Secretariat (*)

- Executive Secretariat of the VIVSALUD Network

- Secretary of finances and mobilization of resources

- Secretary of projects

- 3 additional members

National Healthy Housing Networks

Integration of Actions

• Based on the comprehensive nature of health formed on different action scales

• Proposes a consensus-building of actions and collaboration within the framework of healthy spaces:

• healthy municipalities

• healthy cities

• healthy communities– healthy housing

– healthy schools

– healthy work centers

Principal Functionsof the Inter-American Network

– Provide, sustain, and rectify mechanisms for efficient interconnections and feedback among National Networks at different levels for the purpose of complementing and strengthening national abilities to face local and regional Healthy Housing problems

– Promote cooperation for research, education, dissemination, experience sharing, transfer of technologies, technical and scientific services and health promotion

– Endorse the work of the National Networks in recognition of its effort and scope

Guidelines for the work plans• Scheme guides:

– Basic management• Research and methodological development of tools and

procedures • Establishment of value exposure limits • Monitoring of national problems• Promotion of management

– Complementary management• Reports, scientific literature, conferences, workshops,

exchanges, technical and professional training• Outputs for the Community - project lines, discussion lists,

technical cooperation projects

PROCEDURES FOR THE CREATION OF ANATIONAL HEALTHY HOUSING NETWORK

Central Objetives:

1. Promote a reflection among potential actors for a National Network to intensify healthy housing knowledge.

2. Assess the state, dynamics, conditions, and circumstances of the problems at the national level with regard to Healthy Housing and debate possible alternatives for confronting the issues.

3. Propose possibilities for "better practices" to introduce a Healthy Housing Initiative into the country by constituting a National Network; propose strategies and means based on the specific definition of objectives, structure, functions, guidelines, and policies.

4. Identify possible actors and establish a consensus for formation of a National Healthy Housing Network on the basis of the proposal in the Programmatic Document.

5. Arrange for affiliation to the Inter-American Network as it is proposed in the Programmatic Document.

First Phase: Creation of the National Network and request for affiliation to the Inter-American Network

• Decide at the Workshop/Local Meeting to Develop the Healthy Housing Initiative and adopt the agreements

• Send the Letter of Request for Affiliation to the Inter-American Network with the pertinent documents:

• Constitutional Proceedings for the National Network

• Registry Information for the established National Administrative Council

• Registry Information for the selected National Secretariat

• Registry Information for the constituted National Coordination Group

Second Phase: Proposal for the Work Plan of the National Network and Complementary Documents

• Following a three month term after the Workshop/Meeting, send a letter to the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Network with the requested complementary documents including:

– Letter of institutional recognition to the Official National Network Headquarters– Proposed objectives, structure, functions, and policies of the Biennial National

Network Work Plan– Summary Document of the action plan for the entities' members of the National

Network with respect to healthy housing activities– Designation of authors and definition of terms to produce a National Healthy Housing

Diagnosis

The Regional Secretariat will assess the information presented and will issue a National Network certification of affiliation to the Inter-American Network.