The ecosystem approach to health is a promising strategy in international development: lessons from Japan and Laos

Globalization and Health

Jun Kobayashi⁴  Kazuhiko Moji²  Sachi Tomokawa⁵  Hein Mallee³  Takashi Asakura¹ 

[1] Department of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University, 4-1-1 Nukuikita, Koganei 184-8501, Tokyo, Japan;Graduate School of International Health Development, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan;Faculty of Medicine, University of The Ryukyus, 207 Aza Uehara, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan;Department of Education, Shinshu University, 6-Ro, Nishinagano, Nagano 380-8544, Japan

关键词: Japan;    Laos;    Development and health;    Health consequences;    Ecosystem degradation;    Developing countries;    Ecohealth education;    Ecohealth;    Ecosystem approach;   

Others  :  1133824
DOI  :  10.1186/s12992-015-0093-0

【 摘 要 】

Background

An ecological perspective was prominently present in the health promotion movement in the 1980s, but this seems to have faded. The burden of disease the developing world is facing cannot be addressed solely by reductionist approaches. Holistic approaches are called for that recognize the fundamentally interdependent nature of health and other societal, developmental, and ecosystem related factors in human communities. An ecosystem approach to human health (ecohealth) provides a good starting point to explore these interdependencies.

Discussion

Development assistance is often based on the assumption that developed countries can serve as models for developing ones. Japan has provided lavish assistance to Laos for example, much of it going to the development of transport networks. However, there is little sign that there is an awareness of the potentially negative environmental and health impacts of this assistance. We argue that the health consequences of environmental degradation are not always understood, and that developing countries need to consider these issues. The ecohealth approach is useful when exploring this issue.

We highlight three implications of the ecohealth approach: (1) The WHO definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being emphasized that health is more than the absence of disease. However, because this approach may involve an unattainable goal, we suggest that health should be defined in the ecosystem context, and the goal should be to attain acceptable and sustainable levels of health through enabling people to realize decent livelihoods, and to pursue their life purpose; (2) The increasing interconnectedness of ecosystems in a globalizing world requires an ethical approach that considers human responsibility for the global biosphere. Here, ecohealth could be a countervailing force to our excessive concentration on economy and technology; and (3) If ecohealth is to become a positive agent of change in the global health promotion movement, it will have to find a secure place in the educational curriculum.

Summary

This article presents a brief case study of Japan’s development assistance to Laos, and its environmental and health implications, as an illustration of the ecohealth approach. We highlight three implications of the ecohealth perspective.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Asakura et al.; licensee BioMed Central.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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