environmental health indicators for new zealand: feasibility study
environmental health indicators for new zealand: feasibility study environmental health indicators for new zealand: feasibility study
5.5 Relationship to Other InitiativesThe EHI project has two sets of complimentary links i) with MoH and other ESR projects andii) with other national and regional organisations.(i)National EH Action PlanThe EHI project is closely interlinked with the environmental health action plan projectcurrently being developed. The EHI’s would play a role in priority setting and policyformulation. Once the environmental health action plan is established, the indicators can beincorporated as an evaluative framework for action plan.The EHI’s can be linked with other tools like health impact assessment, burden of disease,risk management plans, and economic analysis to provide a more complete picture of theenvironmental health risk situation in New Zealand and the priority action areas where actionneeds to be taken.(ii)Regional Environmental Health InitiativesThere are several indicator based reporting programmes in New Zealand, the principal onesare:• Quality of Life in the Six Big Cities• Ministry for the Environment’s Environmental Performance Indicators• Stats NZ Socio-Economic Indicators• Ministry of Social Policy Social Report• ERMA’s Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act effectiveness monitoring• Regional Councils State of Environment Reporting.• Stats NZ Sustainability Indicators• Stats NZ Housing Indicators ProjectFor a more detailed list of the common indicators between these programmes and the currentEHI project, refer to appendix 2. There are also a large number of local initiatives eitherprimarily of a research nature [e.g Taeri Valley project] or relating to other health promotionor community development initiatives.It is essential to ensure any national initiative adds value by providing the appropriatelinkages [including methodology] which are currently lacking in many of these programmes.5.6 Information SystemsThe integration of the various data sets is currently being piloted by WHO in Europe using anovel piece of software called EuroIndy. This is a specialised piece of software that enablesthe user to establish a database system on key environment and health statistics using theabove indicators sets, and in so doing present the data and report to users on environment andhealth links.Environmental Health Indicators 28 18 December 2003for New Zealand
5.7 Objectives for Next PhaseThe objectives for the next phase are:• Stakeholder mapping and analysis• Prioritisation of indicators• Conducting pilot study• Describe elements, structure and process of a national EHI systemThey are further outlined in the Appendix 3.7.7.1 Stakeholder Mapping and AnalysisThere has been keen interest by other organisations ( Mfe, ERMA, Regional Councils, CityCouncils) in this project. As discussed earlier there are several national and regional indicatorprojects currently being undertaken and it is important to maintain contact with theseorganisations throughout the project in order to maximise the value to all parties.In particular there is a need to develop consensus as to:• Definition of indicators• Quality assurance methods• Data technologies [incl. data transfer]• Utility of indicators for decision making• Long term sustainability of environmental health surveillance7.7.2. Indicator PrioritisationThe prioritisation of the indicators will be finalised through a Delphi process. From thestakeholder analysis, a group of both data holders/providers and end users will be defined. Aquestionnaire with a summary of this report will be sent to this group for them to assess thequality and utility of the WHO indicator set and invite comment. The next stage would be toassess and prioritise which ones provide the most utility for benchmarking and decisionmaking.Pilot StudyA national pilot study of two of the sets of environmental health issues is proposed to assessthe feasibility of such a system on a national basis. 15 indicators are suggested for piloting,namely air quality and water and sanitation indicators. These two are proposed because theyoriginate largely from regional councils and this will be a good opportunity to trial thetransfer of data from a local to a national database and the ability to collate data fromdisparate sources. This would enable assessment of the information systems as well as theutility of the indicators.The pilot will also enable us to assessment of the utility of the Eurindy software for NewZealand. This pilot study will provide more detailed practical data on data flows, resourcesneeded, the required skill base, and the necessary processes that would be needed for anational roll out.Environmental Health Indicators 29 18 December 2003for New Zealand
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5.7 Objectives <strong>for</strong> Next PhaseThe objectives <strong>for</strong> the next phase are:• Stakeholder mapping and analysis• Prioritisation of <strong>indicators</strong>• Conducting pilot <strong>study</strong>• Describe elements, structure and process of a national EHI systemThey are further outlined in the Appendix 3.7.7.1 Stakeholder Mapping and AnalysisThere has been keen interest by other organisations ( Mfe, ERMA, Regional Councils, CityCouncils) in this project. As discussed earlier there are several national and regional indicatorprojects currently being undertaken and it is important to maintain contact with theseorganisations throughout the project in order to maximise the value to all parties.In particular there is a need to develop consensus as to:• Definition of <strong>indicators</strong>• Quality assurance methods• Data technologies [incl. data transfer]• Utility of <strong>indicators</strong> <strong>for</strong> decision making• Long term sustainability of <strong>environmental</strong> <strong>health</strong> surveillance7.7.2. Indicator PrioritisationThe prioritisation of the <strong>indicators</strong> will be finalised through a Delphi process. From thestakeholder analysis, a group of both data holders/providers and end users will be defined. Aquestionnaire with a summary of this report will be sent to this group <strong>for</strong> them to assess thequality and utility of the WHO indicator set and invite comment. The next stage would be toassess and prioritise which ones provide the most utility <strong>for</strong> benchmarking and decisionmaking.Pilot StudyA national pilot <strong>study</strong> of two of the sets of <strong>environmental</strong> <strong>health</strong> issues is proposed to assessthe <strong>feasibility</strong> of such a system on a national basis. 15 <strong>indicators</strong> are suggested <strong>for</strong> piloting,namely air quality and water and sanitation <strong>indicators</strong>. These two are proposed because theyoriginate largely from regional councils and this will be a good opportunity to trial thetransfer of data from a local to a national database and the ability to collate data fromdisparate sources. This would enable assessment of the in<strong>for</strong>mation systems as well as theutility of the <strong>indicators</strong>.The pilot will also enable us to assessment of the utility of the Eurindy software <strong>for</strong> NewZealand. This pilot <strong>study</strong> will provide more detailed practical data on data flows, resourcesneeded, the required skill base, and the necessary processes that would be needed <strong>for</strong> anational roll out.Environmental Health Indicators 29 18 December 2003<strong>for</strong> New Zealand
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