Abbreviations used in Public Health

AAC	Anaesthesia Assistant Course
ABER	Annual Blood Examination Rate
ADRA	Adventist Development and Relief Agency
AFR	African Region
AFRIM	Arm Force Research Institute of Medical Science
AFSP	Agriculture and Food Security Project
AHW	Auxiliary Health Worker
AIDS	Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AMR	Region of the Americas
ANC	Ante-Natal Care
ANM	Auxiliary Nurse Midwife
APIP	Annual Program Implementation Plan
APR	Annual Program Review
ARI	Acute Respiratory Infection
ART	Antiretroviral Therapy
ASFR	Age Specific Fertility Rate
ASRH	Adolescent and Sexual Reproductive Health
B/CEOC	Basic/ Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care
BCC	Behavior Change Communication
BCG	Bacillus Calmette Guerin
BMET	Biomedical equipment technician Training
BNMT	Britain Nepal Medical Trust
BNMT	Birat Nepal Medical Trust
BoD	Burden of Disease
BPH	Bachelor in Public Health
BPKIHS	Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala Institute of Health Science
BPKMCH	Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital
BSNP	Basic Nutrition Services Package
CAC	Comprehensive Abortion Care
CB-IMCI	Community Based Integrated Management of Childhood Illness
CB-IMNCI	Community Based Integrated Management Of Neonatal And Childhood Illnesses
CB-NCP	Community Based Neonatal Care Programme
CBO	Community Based Organization
CBR	Crude Birth Rate
CBS	Central Bureau of Statistics
CCC	Central Chest Clinic
CCC	Community Care Centre
CD	Community Diagnosis
CDC	Center for Disease Control and Prevention
CDD	Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases
CDMA	Code Digital Multiple Access
CDO	Chief District Officer
CDP	Community Drug Programme
CDR	Crude Death Rate
CERF	Central Emergency Response Fund
CFP	Certified Financial Planner
CHD	Child Health Division
CHD	Community Health Diagnosis
CHI	Community Health Insurance
CMA	Community Medical Assistant
CMAM	Community-based Management of  Acute Malnutrition
CMR	Child Mortality Rate
COPD	Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CPD	Continue Professional Development
CPR	Contraceptive Prevalence Rate
CRS	Contraceptive Retail Sales
CTEVT	Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training
CTS	Clinical Training Skills
CYP	Couple Years of Protection
DACC	District Aids Co-ordination Committee
DALYs	Disability Adjusted Life Years
DDA	Department of Drug Administration
DDC	District Development Committee
DEO	District Education Office
DEP	Directly Executed Projects
DEPO	Depo Provera
DfID	Department for International Development
DG	Director General
DHMT	District Health Management Team
DHS	Demographic Health Survey
DHS	District Health System
DoA	Department of Ayurved
DoHS	Department of Health Services
DOTS	Directly Observed Treatment Short-course
DPHO	District Public Health Office
DPT	Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus
DRF	Debt Relief Fund
DTO	District Treasure Office
DTCO	District Treasury Controllers' Office
EBF	Exclusive Breast Feeding
EDCD	Epidemiology and Disease Control Division
EDPs	External Development Partners
EHCP	Essential Health Care Programme
EHCS	Essential Health Care Services
EHSP	Essential Health Support Programme
EMR	Eastern Mediterranean Region
ENT	Ear Nose Throat
EOC	Essential Obstetric Care
EPHS	Essential Package of Health Services
EPI	Expanded Programme on Immunization
EUR	European Region
FCGO	Financial Controller General Office
FCHVs	Female Community Health Volunteers
FEFO	First Expiry First Out
FGD	Focus Group Discussion
FHD	Family Health Division
FHI	Family Health International
FM	Frequency Modulation
FMIS	Financial Management Information System
FP	Family Planning
FPAN	Family Planning Association Nepal
FSNAU	Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit
FY	Fiscal Year
GDP	Gross Domestic Product
GFR	General Fertility Rate
GM	General Medicine
GOs	Governmental Organizations
GRR	Gross Reproduction Rate
GToT	General Training of Trainers
HA	Health Assistant
HEFU	Health Economics and Financing Unit
HF	Health Facility
HFMC	Health Facility Management Committee
HFOMC	Health Facility Operation and Management Committee
HH	House Hold
HI	Health Institution
HIS	Health Information Systems
HIV	Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus
HMIS	Health Management Information System
HP	Health Post
HPI	Health Post In charge
HPI	Human Poverty Index
HSIS	Health Sector Information System
HSRC	Health Sector Reform Committee
HSRS	Health Sector Reform Strategy
HuRDIS	Human Resource Development Information System
HWs	Health Workers
ICU	Intensive Care Unit
IDP	Internally displaced persons
IEC	Information, Education and Communication
IMAM	Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition
IMCI	Integrated Management of Childhood Illness
IMF	International Monetary Fund
IMR	Infant Mortality Rate
INRUD	International Network for Rational Use of Drugs
IPD	Indoor Patient Department
IUCD	Intrauterine Contraceptive Device
IUD	Intra Uterine Device
IUDs	Intravenous Drug Users
IYCF	Infant and Young Child Feeding
JICA	Japan International Co-operation Agency
KAP	Knowledge Attitude Practice
LA	Lab Assistant
LAN	Local Area Network
LBI	Low Birth Index
LCD	Leprosy Control Division
LDO	Local Development Officer
LMD	Logistics Management Division
LMIS	Logistics Management Information System
LSGA	Local Self Governance Act
LTHP	Long Term Health Plan
M&E	Monitoring & Evaluation
MAP	Mini Action Project
MCH	Maternal and Child Health
MCHWs	Maternal and Child Health Workers
MD	Management Division
MDGs	Millennium Development Goals
MHP	Micro Health Project
MIS	Management Information System
MIYCF	Maternal, Infant and Young Child Feeding
MLP	Mid-Level Practicum
MMR	Maternal Mortality Ratio
MNP	Micronutrient Powder
MO	Medical Officer
MoE	Ministry of Education
MoF	Ministry of Finance
MoFALD	Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development
MOH	Ministry Of Health
MoHP	Ministry Of Health and Population
MOT	Mode of Transmission
MoPPW	Ministry of Physical Planning and Works
MSI	Marie Stopes International
MSNP	Multi-sector Nutrition Plan
MTEF	Medium Term Expenditure Framework
MToT	Master Training of Trainers
MUAC	Mid Upper Arm Circumference
MWRA	Married Women of Reproductive Age
NAGA	Nepal Nutrition Assessment and Gap Analysis
NATA	Nepal Anti-Tuberculosis Association
NCASC	National Centre for AIDS and STD Control
NCD	Non Communicable Disease
NCDR	New Case Detection Rate
NDHS	Nepal Demographic Health Survey
NGO/INGO	Non-governmental Organization/ International Non-governmental Organization
NGOCC	NGO Co-ordination Committee
NHA	National Health Account
NHEICC	National Health Education Information and Communication Centre
NHP	National Health Policy
NHRC	Nepal Health Research Council
NHSP-IP	National Health Sector Program- Implementation Plan
NHTC	National Health Training Center
NIP	National Immunization Programme
NPC	National Planning Commission
NPHL	National Public Health Laboratory
NRCS	Nepal Red Cross Society
NSMP	Nepal Safe Motherhood Program
NTAG	Nepal Technical Assistance Group
NTC	National Tuberculosis Center
NTP	National Tuberculosis Programme
NUTEC	Nutrition Technical Committee
OAG	Office of Auditor General
OECD	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OPD	Out Patient Department
OPV	Oral Polio Vaccine
ORS	Oral Rehydration Solution
ORT	Oral Rehydration Therapy
OTP	Outpatient Therapeutic Programme
OTTM	Operation Theatre Technique and Management
PAC	Post Abortion Care
PCA	Programme Cooperation Agreement
PEFA	Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability
PEM	Protein Energy Malnutrition
PFM	Public Finance Management
PGR	Population Growth Rate
PHC/ORC	Primary Health Care/ Out Reach Clinic
PHCC	Primary Health Care Center
PHCRD	Primary Health Care Revitalization Division
PLA	Participatory Learning Approach
PME	Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
PMU	Project Management Unit
PNC	Post Natal Care
PNP	Public NGO Partnership
POSDCoRB	Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting and Budgeting
PPE	Personal Protective Equipment
PPICD	Policy, Planning and International Cooperation Division
PPIUCD	Post Partum Intrauterine Contraceptive Device
PPMO	Public Procurement Monitoring Office
PPP	Public Private Partnership
PPT	Program Preparation Team
PRA	Participatory Rural Approach
PRGF	Poverty Reduction Grant Fund
PRSP	Social Health Insurance
PSI	Population Service International
RBM	Roll Back Malaria
RFT	Released From Treatment
RH	Reproductive Health
RHD	Regional Health Directorate
RHTC	Regional Health Training Centre
RTC	Regional Training Centre
RTI	Respiratory Tract Infection
SARS	Severe acute respiratory syndrome
SBA	Skilled Birth Attendance
SCC	Social Change Communication
SEAR	South-East Asia Region
SHI	Social Health Insurance
SHP	Sub Health Post
SLTHP	Second Long Term Health Plan
SM/FP	Safe Motherhood/ Family Planning
SMNH	Safe Motherhood and Neonatal Health
SODIS	Solar Water Disinfection System
SPR	Slide Positivity Rate
SPSS	Statistical Product and Service Solutions
SRHR	Sexual Reproductive Health Right
STI/STD	Sexually Transmitted Infection/Disease
SWAp	Sector Wide Approach
SWOT	Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat
TADA	Travel Allowance Daily Allowance
TABUCS	Transaction Accounting and Budget Control System
TB	Tuberculosis
TBA	Traditional Birth Attendant
TFR	Total Fertility Rate
TIMS	Training Information Management System
TLB	Total Live Birth
TNA	Training Need Analysis
ToT	Training of Trainers
TRC	Technical Review Committee
TSA	Treasury Single Account
TSFP	Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme
TT	Tetanus Toxoid
U5	Under Five
UMN	United Mission to Nepal
UNDP	United Nations Development Programme
UNFPA	United Nations Population Fund
UNICEF	United Nation’s International Children’s Emergency Fund
USG	Ultrasonography
UTI	Urinary Tract Infection
VAD	Vitamin A Deficiency
VDC	Village Development Committee
VHW	Village Health Worker
VSC	Voluntary Surgical Contraception
WARUN	Walter Reeds AFRIM Research Unit Nepal
WHO	World Health Organization
WPR	Western Pacific Region

Biopiracy

Biopiracy is a circumstance where indigenous information of nature, starting with indigenous people groups, is utilized by others for the benefit, without consent from and with next to zero pay or acknowledgment to the indigenous individuals themselves. For instance when bio-prospectors draw on indigenous learning of therapeutic plants which is later protected by medicinal organizations without perceiving the way that the information is not new, or created by the patenter, and denying the indigenous group to the rights to commercial exploitation of the innovation that they themselves had created. Critics of this practice, for example, Greenpeace, assert these practices add to disparity between developing nations rich in biodiversity, and developed nations facilitating organizations that take part in 'biopiracy'. 

It implies natural robbery, illicit gathering of indigenous plants by company who patent them for their own utilization. 

• Unauthorized utilization of natural assets 
• Unauthorized utilization of indigenous groups' knowledge on biological resources
• Unequal share of advantages between patent holder and the indigenous group 

For e.g. blood robbery of Raute for inspecting; in 2000, the US company RiceTec (an auxiliary of RiceTec AG of Liechtenstein) endeavored to patent certain hybrids of basmati rice, and semidwarf long-grain rice. The Indian government mediated and several cases of the patent were nullified. For e.g. in the interim, the European Commission has consented to secure basmati rice under its controls relating to geological indications, etc.

Importance of Environmental Health

Maintaining a healthy environment is central to increasing quality of life and years of healthy life. Globally, nearly 25 percent of all deaths and the total disease burden can be attributed to environmental factors. Environmental factors are diverse and far-reaching. They include: Exposure to hazardous substances in the air, water, soil, and food; Natural and technological disasters; Physical hazards; Nutritional deficiencies, etc.

Poor environmental quality has its greatest impact on people whose health status is already at risk. We can take the example of present burning issue i.e. global warming due to which sea level is rising and engulfing our dwelling places gradually. Therefore, environmental health must address the societal and environmental factors that increase the likelihood of exposure and disease.

Environmental health tells us how to deal directly with the pollution and all the tricks to prevent the harmful effects of this pollution. For example, house planning, proper disposal of wastages, personal protective equipments against communicable diseases, workplaces, etc. It’s the field of study with diverse dimensions in all aspects of the world including natural and artificial environment. All the aspect of human safety which includes external and internal physical, mental and conscience health lies in the environmental health.

Introduction to Environmental Health

Meaning:

-    Environment: 

According to Last, J. M. (Ed.). (1995), it is defined as all that which is external to the individual host. It can be divided into physical, biological, social, and cultural factors, any or all of which can influence health status in populations. 

-   Health: 

According to WHO, Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Thus, Environmental Health can be defined as all the components external to the individual host that can influence the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being of that host. And these can be either internal which comprises mental state and physical (internal) processes or external which comprises surroundings of human being: Physical (Air, water, climate), Biological (trees (plants), living beings, and parasites), Social (culture, customs, behavior, concept, belief, etc).

According to WHO, Environmental health is defined as "those aspects of the human health and disease that are determined by factors in the environment. It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing and controlling factors in the environment that can potentially affect health."

· Application of Environmental Health:

The main purpose of environmental health is to create and maintain ecological conditions that will promote health and thus prevent disease. Environmental health comprises those aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are determined by physical, chemical, biological, social and psycho-social factors in the environment.

Environmental Health can be applied for the following purposes:

1. Prevention of disease and poisoning, especially those with unrecognized agents
2. Identifying the risk factors for the health disorder
3. Maintaining an environment suited to man’s efficient performance, and
4. Preservation of comfort and the enjoyment of living
5. Guide for policy development
6. Devise intervention and prevention
7. Assess, correct, control and prevent those factors in the environment that can potentially affect the health of present and future generations.
8. Public awareness and education
9. Disseminate information on how to reduce exposures