International Health

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMITTEE

To meet our mission, the IHC has three main objectives:

Education: The IHC develops presentations on international health issues that are presented at the annual education conference (AEC) and at regional WSEHA meetings. Updates to this website include links to technical resources that WSEHA members can access to learn more about international health issues and best practices in basic water and sanitation.

Outreach: The IHC is developing strategic partnerships with sister organizations, such as the Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA), to better utilize resources to promote environmental health in an international setting. The IHC holds silent auctions on an annual basis at the WSEHA AEC to not only raise money for overseas projects but to increase awareness of international health issues.

Assistance: WSEHA has worked with many different organizations to support projects related to environmental public health. Each year, the IHC chair and WSEHA Board select a recipient for the IHC funds. See the list to the right for project descriptions.

Los Manguitos (2001)
Chipole (2002)
Helene (2002)
Pancansan (2003)
Quito (2003)
Cali
Afghanistan/Ecuador (2004)
Thailand (2005)
Janconuno (2006)
West Bengal, India (2007)
Laos (2008)
Los Rodriguez, Nicaragua (2009)

Kahororo (2013)

Water 1st International (2014)

Mercy Corp (2016)

H2OforLife (2017)

Etta Projects (2018) & Pt II

Help Animals India (2020)

Water1st (2021)

Project Ethiopia (2022)

Etta Projects (2023)

Past IHC-Sponsored Projects

2023 IHC Recipient
Etta Projects

Etta Projects is a Tacoma based non-profit organization that works in Bolivia, the poorest country in South America. In rural areas of Eastern Bolivia, their current service area, the majority of families live without adequate water, sanitation, and access to healthcare. Their mission is to collaborate with communities to create sustainable solutions to improve health, sanitation, and clean water. In 2022, Etta expanded its focus to eliminating food insecurity in the region using environmental solutions. Through their work, over 71,000 people in Bolivia have benefited with improved health and nutrition, water, and sanitation. Additionally, 19 communities and 435 families now have environmentally sounds sanitation systems, and 31 villages have clean water systems and water committee to manage them.

Here is how YOU can help sponsor Etta Projects and make this year’s IHC Silent Auction and Raffle successful:

► Donate to the silent auction! Items in the past have included: gift cards, experiences, getaways, books, gently used items and memorabilia, etc. Anything helps!

► Raffle baskets! It’s time to get competitive and creative! IHC is encouraging all WSEHA board members, LHJs, and any individual with a creative spirit to donate your best raffle gift basket. Last year Kitsap Public Health and DOH earned bragging rights for the most money raised and most creative baskets, respectively. Who is going to take the awards from them this year?

► Make a donation using this link: