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Health Vulnerability in Chennai

Towards a better understanding of urban Health - 15th March 2008

Objectives

In January 2007 a joint project on "Health Vulnerability in Chennai" was launched by the Department of Geography, Madras University, the Department of Geography, Bonn University and the French Institute of Pondicherry, Spatial Epidemiology Project.

The objective of this joint project was to explore different dimensions of health vulnerability in Chennai by focusing on the one hand on water-related stressors and on the other hand on sensitivity and adaptive capacity of urban poor.

We followed a cohort of 220 households in two slums areas for a period of 18 weeks during summer and monsoon seasons. The sensitivity to water-related ill-health was monitored weekly through self-reported syndromic surveillance. To get an insight into exposures, households responded to a survey on risk factors and we monitored vector populations using mosquito traps. We explored coping and adaptive capacity with surveys on health seeking behaviour and the impact of ill health on households’ livelihoods. We used semi-structured interviews on emic concepts and theories of health and illness in order to better understand health-related behaviour.

This midterm workshop has two interrelated objectives. First, preliminary results of the project will be presented and exposed to the critical comments from experts’ and stakeholders’ view. By doing so we want to evaluate our project design and implementation and identify areas that can be improved in the future. Second, as the end of the project period is approaching, we aim to develop a proposal for a follow up project by building on the results and experience of the first phase and your valuable inputs.

Programme

	Inauguration
10.15 – 11.00	Welcome address
	Key note address - Mr. Danraj (Chennai Corporation)
	Inaugural address - Prof. T. Vasantha Kumaran (Madras University)
	Vote of thanks - Joint research team
11.00 – 11.15	Tea-break

	Introduction
11.15 – 11.35	Concepts, objectives and methods - Joint research team
11.35 – 11.55	Presentation of the research sites - Joint research team
11.55 – 12.15	Discussion

	Ill-health in Megacities
12.15 – 12.35	Review of water related outbreaks in urban areas - Dr. Hutin (WHO)
12.35 – 13.55	Water-related infectious diseases in Chennai - Mr. Dhanraj (Chennai Corporation)
13.00 – 13.20	Syndromic surveillance in a Chennai slum - Joint research team
13.20 – 13.40	Discussion
13.40 – 14.30	Lunch

	Exposure to health risks
14.30 – 14.50	Vectors in the Metropolis of Chennai - Dr. Arunachalam (CRME, Madurai)
14.50 – 15.10	Water-related risk factors in a Chennai slum - Joint research team
15.10 – 15.30	Discussion
15.30 – 15.45	Tea-break

	Coping with health risks and ill-health
15.45 – 16.05	Human Health in a Chennai slum - Prof. T. Vasantha Kumaran (Madras University)
16.05 – 16.25	Coping with ill-health by urban poor - Joint research team
16.25 – 16.45	Discussion

	Ways ahead for future research
16.45 – 17.20	Discussion

	Closing of the workshop
	Valedictory address - Prof. Salem (University of Paris)
	Vote of thanks - Joint research team

Organizers

French Institute of Pondicherry
Department of Geography, University of Madras
Department of Geography, Bonn University

Funding

Department of Geography, Bonn University
German Research Foundation

Coordinators

Thomas Seyler, (IFP / University of Nanterre)
Patrick Sakdapolrak, (University of Bonn)

Venue

Jawaharlal Nehru Conference Hall, French Institute of Pondicherry, 11, Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry – 605001

Latest addition : 24 April 2008.