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Ecosystems and Human Health
Healthier environments, improved human health

Long-standing environmental hazards. New and unprecedented environmental changes. Rapid economic growth. Changing societies. All are affecting the health and livelihoods of poor people around the world.

Often, these populations live in degraded ecosystems that are harmful to their health, but they have few resources to improve their circumstances. They face malnutrition, environmental pollution, and new and old infectious diseases.

Since 1996 IDRC has supported research on ways to improve the health of people and ecosystems in the developing regions of the world. This work has helped establish the field of ecosystem approaches to human health (ecohealth)

Learn more about the Ecohealth Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiative (Eco EID), a partnership between IDRC, Canadian International Development Agency, and the Australian Agency for International Development. Eco EID aims to improve knowledge and capacities to prevent and control new and re-emerging infectious diseases in South East Asia and China.


Read the program overview in EnglishFrench, or Spanish.

Featured Publication

Getting ahead of pandemics

Getting ahead of pandemics

The responses to the troubling news from China of a growing number of deaths from H7N9 are all too familiar. World public-health experts appear to be waiting for H7N9 to be declared a pandemic so they can launch their policies; scientists in the lab...

News

Report puts spotlight on links between health and environment in Africa

19/03/2013

The connections between environmental and human health are the subject of the African Environment Outlook-3 (AEO-3), released recently by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  With environmental factors contributing almost 30% of the...

CIDA grant helps increase food security of Malawi farmers

25/03/2013

The Canadian International Development Agency has allocated $2.5 million to extend the benefits of the IDRC-supported Soils, Food and Healthy Communities project to many more Malawian farmers and their families over the next five years.    Malawi...

Events

Abidjan plays host to first African Regional Conference of the International Association on Ecology and Health

26/03/2013

Researchers from around the world will gather in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from October 1-5, 2013 to attend the First African Regional Conference of the International Association on Ecology and Health (IAEH). The conference is hosted by the Centre...

Join IDRC at the Prince Mahidol Awards Conference 2013 in Thailand

28/01/2013

Join us at the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2013 in Thailand January 28-February 2. Help achieve a "world united against infectious diseases."  Share evidence of how cross-sectoral and international cooperation and communication...


Featured Resource

Ecohealth Journal cover image - flying fox
Visit the website of the International Association of Ecology and Health. IDRC supports the Association's journal and conferences. 

Latest Project

Institutionalizing Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health in West and Central Africa

This project follows up on a earlier project on institutionalizing Ecosystem approaches to human health in West and Central Africa (102148). The earlier project saw the development of an Ecohealth cur

Latest Results

Asian researchers have developed new environmental and community approaches to reduce the number of mosquitoes carrying dengue, the fastest-growing mosquito-borne viral disease. Dengue is a significant economic and social burden in many countries...
Innovation to control dengue disease in AsiaFocusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in AfricaManaging health risks on small dairy farms in KenyaGrowing nutritious food for better health in MalawiAgriculture for better health

Latest Results

Climate change poses a serious threat to poor communities in Africa that are already vulnerable to vector-borne diseases.The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its report of the consultation, “Adaptation to Social, Environmental and...
Innovation to control dengue disease in Asia Focusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in AfricaManaging health risks on small dairy farms in KenyaGrowing nutritious food for better health in MalawiAgriculture for better health

Latest Results

Many cattle carry Cryptosporidium, an organism causing gastrointestinal illness with diarrhea that can be dangerous for both humans and animals. Preventing and managing this disease places a heavy burden on hospitals and veterinarians...
Innovation to control dengue disease in AsiaFocusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in Africa Managing health risks on small dairy farms in KenyaGrowing nutritious food for better health in MalawiAgriculture for better health

Latest Results

Since 2001, the IDRC-funded Soils, Food and Healthy Communities project has helped combat malnutrition and improve the health of poor families in rural northern Malawi. Growing a wide variety of nutritious food crops has led to stronger children...
Innovation to control dengue disease in AsiaFocusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in AfricaManaging health risks on small dairy farms in Kenya Growing nutritious food for better health in MalawiAgriculture for better health

Latest Results

Reshaping Agriculture for Nutrition and Health is a new resource for those who think that linking agriculture, nutrition, and health can maximize agricultural benefits for the poor and hungry. Published by the International Food Policy Research...
Innovation to control dengue disease in AsiaFocusing on vector-borne diseases, climate change in AfricaManaging health risks on small dairy farms in KenyaGrowing nutritious food for better health in Malawi Agriculture for better health
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IDRC funds researchers in the developing world so they can build healthier, more prosperous societies
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