Kathmandu urban ecosystem health project a model approach | Knowledge Synthesis and Dissemination of Ecohealth Research Projects : 8th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) in Nairobi, Kenya, October 19-23, 2009

International Development Research Centre (IDRC) supported research study on Echinococcosis/Hydatidosis which was carried out between 1992 and 2001 in Kathmandu Metropolitan City Nepal. The research work was carried out in two distinct project stages in wards 19 and 20 of KMC one from 1992-1996(applying a traditional epidemiology approach) and a second was Urban Ecosystem Health Project (UEHP) Approach from 1998-2006. Overall, there were three main step of activities in the development of the UEHP in Nepal: First is an exploratory/analytical systemic steps focusing on linkages between social, ecological, and health variables (1998-2001); The second a community action step employing a variety of systemic, narrative, and participatory-action research tools (2003-2006); and the third phase of urban ecosystem health project started from 2007 to 2009 which is now running. Community participation or participatory action research is a key element of ecosystem health programmes. Participatory Action Research approaches have three main goals. The first step is to describe what is there? What are the physical and socio-economic possibilities of this person or place? If we use the analogy of a person. The Second step, for ecosystems as for individuals, health is not just a physical state, but what we might call a spiritual state. It has been said that in any part of the world no solutions will be sustainable in the long run unless they are rooted in the communities where the problems occur, drawing on the people in these communities and their many skills, resources, and important knowledge, and those communities feel empowered and supported by higher levels of government. If such approaches can be worked out between local communities in Indian Subcontinent, non-government organizations, businesses, regional institutions of government and university, and with outside input only as necessary, then truly sustainable solutions will be found, and Kathmandu.