Mr. Jeremiah Michael Daffa, Director of Tanzania Coastal Management Partnership (TCMP) shares his new learnings and his delights on what new strategies he can replicate in his country in the integration of PHE in conservation efforts and social development programs. (Caption/Photos by BEGT Zabala/PGMA)

“I have learned what is being achieved in PHE (Population-Health-

Environment)integration. It seems that with PHE, traditional values are being maintained. What is introduced is not replacing the values”

“I thought PHE was just a theory but it was implemented on the ground. Congratulations for this innovation. I am impressed with how the communities , local government and how they have taken it up and understand PHE issues and talk about issues of coastal, marine, health and population.”

“My organization is into advocacy and linking communities and when PHE came in to my organization, I did not get the picture, later it became clearer but with this study tour it has became clearest. “

These were some of the insights from the delegates of the South to South Exchange on Integrated Population Health and Environment (SSE-PHE) for Executives of Government and Non-Government Organizations held in the Philippines last February 1-8, 2010. The SSE-PHE is a cross-institutional learning opportunity targeted at executives of health, development and conservation organizations interested in pursuing integrated PHE programming. Organized by The BALANCED Project, the SSE-PHE showcased the Integrated Population and Coastal Resource Management (IPOPCORM) Initiative of PATH Foundation Philippines Inc (PFPI).

Ten government and non-government executives from Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, Tanzania and United States visited PFPI’s PHE learning sites in Bohol Province namely Talibon, Ubay and Bien Unido. These visits allowed the delegates to learn information on the benefits of PHE integration through interaction with LGU officials and other stakeholders. They were particularly impressed with synergistic efforts undertaken by the LGUs and key stakeholders towards sustaining the IPOCORM initiatives. The learning sites have institutionalized PHE activities by incorporating them in their CRM plans. They also learned during their community visits that proper information and education on PHE link creates a strong sense of volunteerism among community members.

The lessons learned from the whole experience enabled the delegates to improve their conceptualized PHE frameworks and develop sound site-specific PHE action plans. The BALANCED Project, a global initiative that promotes and supports integrated population, health and environment (PHE) programs, will continue to provide technical assistance and support to these action plans to integrate PHE in the delegates’ respective countries.