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

• Asakura, Takashi

• Mallee, Hein

• Tomokawa, Sachi

• Moji, Kazuhiko

• Kobayashi, Jun

Abstract

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. 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.

Globalization and Health, 11, 3; 2015

Journal

• Globalization and Health

  Globalization and Health 11 3-, 2015-02-16

  BioMed Central

Keywords

• Developing countries
• Development and health
• Ecohealth
• Ecohealth education
• Ecosystem approach
• Ecosystem degradation
• Health consequences
• Japan
• Laos

Details

• CRID: 1050568772252138752
• NII Article ID: 120006987136
• ISSN: 17448603
• DOI: 10.1186/s12992-015-0093-0
• HANDLE: 10069/35276
• Web Site: https://nagasaki-u.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/4162
• Web Site: http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12992-015-0093-0.pdf
• Web Site: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12992-015-0093-0/fulltext.html
• Web Site: http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12992-015-0093-0
• Text Lang: en
• Article Type: journal article
• Data Source:
  • IRDB
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN