FANG Jing, Kunming Medical University  (Small Grant 2012)

The National Action Plan for Environment and Health, introduced in 2007, committed the Chinese health system to addressing the environmental determinants of disease. This project assesses the implementation of that policy at the local level. It will explore the ways in which the rural health system in Yunnan Province is responding to environmental health risks, analyze the policy, fiscal, technical and other factors that shape responsive capacity, and make suggestions for how rural environmental health risks can be more effectively monitored and addressed.

 

Yunnan Province is in the southwest of China. The province has rich mineral deposits and as a result, lead, cadmium and other heavy metal pollution from mining presents a serious threat to health in some rural areas. Non-point pollution from the intensification of agriculture and livestock-raising is also a problem that affects both the producers and consumers of food. This project will look at four counties, two of which have mining and industrial pollution (Huize and Qujing); one with intensive animal husbandry (Qiubei) and one with intensive horticulture (Yuanmou). The project team will interview local health system officials and workers to understand the way in which they view environmental health risks and the resources and management capacity they have available for monitoring and responding to them.