Presentation by Hung Nguyen-Viet at the First African Regional Conference of the International Association on Ecology and Health (Africa 2013 Ecohealth), Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire, 1-5 October 2013.

1. FBLI
Field Building Leadership Initiative:
Advancing Ecohealth in Southeast Asia
Hung Nguyen-Viet* and Regional Core Group Members
*Regional Coordinator of FBLI
Coordinating Unit of FBLI, CENPHER/HSPH
Hanoi School of Public Health

2. • Studies the health and well-being impacts of
development factors using integrative approaches
of Ecohealth/One Health with special focus on
South East Asia with link to similar issues of Africa.
• Focus on the link between health and agriculture,
infectious and zoonotic diseases, chemical
pollution, food safety and nutrition, from lab to
the field.
 Ecosystem Health / One Health
 Food Safety
 Health Impact Assessment
Main research themes

3. Rational for FBLI
• Ecohealth usefulness and more recently introduced
in South East Asia (SEA)
• Need to strengthen individual, institutional and
country capacity in understanding and applying this
approach within the context of the region.
• FBLI aims at advancing ecohealth in SEA through
integrating research, training, policy and networking
• Focusing on solving human health problems
associated with agricultural intensification in SEA
countries.

4. Partners and Regional Core Group (RCG)

5. Main components of FBLI
• Yuanmou (CN)
• Hanam (VN)
• Chachoengsao (TH)
• Pangalengen , West Java (ID)
“Site based- concept”

6. Research
Using ecohealth approaches to manage ecosystems and health
in the context of agricultural intensification
• Generate knowledge: links and interactions among agricultural
practices, ecosystems, poverty alleviation and health.
• Develop practical and innovative solutions to address health
and environment problems identified.
• Engage with local policy makers during the early stage of the
research process, and to inform them about research findings.
Multi-institutional, inter-disciplinary team

7. Where are we active?
• Yuanmou (CN)
• Hanam (VN)
• Chachoengsao (TH)
• Pangalengen , West Java (ID)
“Site based- concept”
Dairy Production: Connecting Issues and
Finding Interventions for Small-Scale
Farming in a Southeast Asian Context
Reduce pesticide use and its health and
environment impact in Yuanmou County,
Yunnan Province, China
Rubber Plantation Expansion and
Increased Risk of Vector-Borne Diseases in
Eastern Thailand
Better Human and Animal Waste
Management in Hanam Province, Vietnam
(Eco-HAWAM)

8. Capacity building

9. Knowledge translation

10. The FBLI Ecohealth Trainer
Manual and Regional
Ecohealth/One Health in SEA
• Developed by a group of
researchers working in the field
of Ecohealth, including FBLI
team members
• Focus on how to teach
Ecohealth
• Publication and launch in May
2013
Highlights: Capacity Building
Free download at:
https://www.vetswithoutborders.ca/ge
t-involved/resources/fbli

11. Regional Ecohealth/One Health
short course in SEA
• Regionally based trainers
• Practical, theory and field work
• Built on EHRC Chiangmai
success of risk assessment and
ecohealth course
• 25 participants from SEA
Highlights: Capacity Building

12. • Master and PhD in One Health and Ecosytem
Management (first intake expected for 2014 at
Mahidol University)
• Ecohealth Future Leader Program (University of
Indonesia)
• Journal One Health and Ecosytem Management
(to be launched early 2014)
• Ecohealth Network
Highlights: Capacity Building

13. Planning and Expected Outcomes
• 5 years: 2012-2017
• Ecohealth is well-positioned to become a sustainable
dynamic field. A vibrant and visible ecohealth research
community has emerged in Southeast Asia.
• Path-breaking research findings and practical solutions -
action research approaches to locally defined problems and
issues.
• A robust and critical mass of training materials and pedagogy,
regional cases, best practices, and regional short courses and
degree programs.
• Strong and enduring linkages among policy makers and
researchers.

14. Regional EH lessons learned and partnership….
EHRC 1
EHRC 2

15. Thank you!