A clean bill of health? How humanitarian agencies can remedy approaches to nutrition and sanitation

July 15, 2010 - PRLog -- When any disaster strikes, a variety of international organizations offer relief to the country affected but they all have different objectives, expertise and resources to offer.  Provision of aid on a large scale must be managed appropriately to avoid further chaos and confusion both during and after the disaster.  

Experts from various NGO’s and governmental departments will come together on the 22nd July 2010 at the Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF) to discuss the availability and beneficial value of ‘Healthcare, Nutrition and Sanitation’ provided following a disaster as well as its contribution to the country’s development.

Rich Thorsten, Director of International Programs at Water.org and one of the panellists, asserts: “Sanitation has finally begun to receive more attention in the international development arena; forming partnerships with people in developing countries plays a critical role in the success and sustainability of sanitation interventions.”  However, the availability of healthcare between differing countries in the developing world is becoming increasingly disproportionate.  It would seem that development resources are progressively more focused on larger, lower risk nations and therefore a critical role is played in forming partnerships to ensure the success and sustainability of sanitation interventions in these areas.

Julie Taft (International Medical Corps), Glenn Keys, (Aspen Medical), Omar Taha and Maria Kasparian, (Edesia LLC), Anthony Dunnett, (International Health Partners),and Paul Chen, (Vestergaard Frandsen) will join Rich on the panel moderated by Peter Goldstein, Director of Intermedia.  Together they will look further into partnership processes, key challenges and lessons learnt to facilitate increased effectiveness. The panel will examine the importance of building up the evidence base for prevention of malnutrition to eliminate repeat interventions and improve health outcomes while reducing overall costs.

Using Haiti as an example, Kasperian and the panel will also address current ways that ready-to-use foods are being utilized as part of larger emergency relief and development strategies.  The role of field-testing these foods in new regions, for new populations as well as the role of their local production in the developing world will be scrutinized.

Now in its fifth year, AIDF is a valuable opportunity for the aid, relief and development sector to network, build partnerships and address global humanitarian and development challenges, as well as showcasing goods and services to those who are responsible for delivery.

Registration is free to non-commercial organizations. More information, including the workshop agenda, speaker and exhibitor lists and registration details can be found at www.aidforumonline.org

Aid & International Development Forum 2010 partners include InterAction, Ahead Energy, USAID, International Health Partners, Business Fights Poverty, the IPOA, World Bank Publications and RedR UK.

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For lists of speakers, exhibitors and the workshop agenda, please use the following links:
Speakers: http://www.aidforumonline.org/event_guide/speakers/catego...
Workshop Agenda:
http://www.aidforumonline.org/event_guide/workshops/
Exhibitors: http://www.aidforumonline.org/event_guide/exhibitors/cate...

Contacts
Diva Rodriguez, Communications. Email: diva@aidforumonline.org
Andrew Matthewson, Sales Manager. Email: sales@aidforumonline.org
Telephone +44 (0) 20 7871 0188

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Information for Editors about the Aid & International Development Forum

The Aid & International Development Forum (previously International Aid & Trade) has been the world's leading forum for humanitarian relief professionals to cement relationships, build partnerships, gain understanding and share experiences. Having been acquired by Henley Media Group in 2005, International Aid & Trade ran in Geneva in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2009 the event moved to Washington D.C., in partnership with InterAction, the largest coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Facts & Figures

There will be over 1600 visitors and in the region of 120 exhibitors, 100 of which will be businesses, 20 of which will be NGOs, UN and Government stands.