The Cardozo CIIMSA set as an original goal building
capacity to track improvements in environmental health
conditions. Community collaboration helped remove
barriers,which previously hindered efforts of public
health officials to monitor improvements. Data collected
on the water supply and sewage systems helped
environmental technicians better understand problems
and develop interventions. Environmental health services
providers (Iquitos Laboratory,DE SA,EPS
Loreto,CLAS Cardozo, and DISA) who were overwhelmed
now collaborate with stakeholders and community
residents on demand-driven environmental
public health issues. Public health officials assumed a
new leadership role that required development of new
skills to work with the communities they serve.
Redefining the role of environmental leadership in
Cardozo required environmental health services to
increase focus on skills (such as community collaboration),
training and environmental education.