Mensaje del Director

September 10th, 1968 is considered the founding date of CEPIS. The date is associated with the formal authorization for operations by HQ, and acceptance by the Government of Peru. It is an adequate moment to think of our responsibilities in the different contexts, in the challenges and achievements of the Center in the past and for the future. Looking at the magnitude of the challenge that the countries have in environmental sanitation, we can only strengthen our efforts and move ahead with certainty. With certainty in our capacities and those of our partners. With certainty in the Mission of PAHO. With certainty in environmental sanitation as a major public health and development priority.
I reiterate my confidence in the team of CEPIS

Mauricio Pardón
CEPIS/PAHO Director

The Pan American Center for Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences, CEPIS, is the specialized center for environmental technology of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Center was established in 1968 and is located in Lima, Peru. The Peruvian Government provided CEPIS premises and finances some of its operating costs. CEPIS is part of PAHO's Division of Health and Environment and develops its activities with the support of PAHO/WHO Country Representative Offices.

CEPIS mission is to cooperate with the countries of the Americas to evaluate and control environmental risk factors that, directly or indirectly, affect the health of the population.

CEPIS contributes to the evaluation and control of environmental health risk factors through permanent contact with public and private institutions, community organizations, and international cooperation agencies. When these entities share objectives and common interests, they join efforts and optimize the use of resources through networks.

CEPIS cooperation is primarily provided through the dissemination of information, training of specialized staff, and direct technical advisory services. Programs that strengthen PAHO cooperation with its Member Governments are promoted and applied research is carried out. Special attention is given to the development of appropriate technologies, oriented towards rural and urban-marginal areas. The proposed technologies consider self-sustainable approaches.

CEPIS aims at contributing to the development of the countries’ capacities so that they can face their environmental health problems, through these working strategies.

Since its creation, CEPIS has worked with the countries of the Region to help them upgrade their environmental health conditions. CEPIS currently concentrates its efforts on the following lines of action:

CEPIS cooperates with the countries of the Region to strengthen their capacity to evaluate potential health risks of chemical substances and pathogenic agents. These activities include:

• Development of human resources and research on areas related to risk evaluation, such as environmental impact, environmental epidemiology, and environmental and clinical toxicology.

• Transfer and adaptation of risk evaluation methodologies.

• Development of educational material on subjects related to risk evaluation.

• Dissemination of information on toxicology.

CEPIS cooperates for the adoption of control measures related to environmental health risk factors, in the following fields:

• Promotion of quality improvement programs for surface and ground waters.

• Development and dissemination of appropriate technology for drinking water treatment plants, stabilization ponds, and sanitary wastewater reuse.

• Dissemination of technologies and manuals for conventional sanitary landfills, hospital waste management and industrial waste minimization. Research is carried out on leachate control in sanitary landfills and compost production.

• Proposal to reduce waste contamination, through the Pan American Network for Sanitary Waste Management (REPAMAR). There is a national network in each country and CEPIS is the regional coordinator of the network.

• Control of chemical products in the environment, mainly lead and other heavy metals, pesticides and organic solvents.

• Encouragement of urban air pollution control programs.

• Promotion of chemical substances safety programs and strengthening of centers for intoxication control.

• Development of experimental work for the improvement of sanitary conditions of low-income areas. Results are disseminated to other countries for their implementation at a greater scale.

• Fostering urban environmental management at local level, within the Healthy Cities framework. Since 1995, CEPIS has carried out projects emphasizing community participation and sustainable solutions.

• Promotion of sanitary education and community participation programs.

CEPIS cooperates in the strengthening and modernization of laboratories for environmental samples, providing support for the:

• Establishment of quality assurance and quality control programs.

• Set up of programs for the qualification, certification and accreditation systems of environmental laboratories, according to international standards.

• Application of standardized analytical methods.

• Development of monitoring and methodological research programs.

CEPIS promotes the exchange of specialized information through the Pan American Information Network on Health and Environment (REPIDISCA). This network operates in 23 countries through national coordinating centers responsible for the network development in each country and 352 cooperating centers established in national institutions. All these institutions contribute with information and they disseminate its products and services. As of 1998, its bibliographic database holds 146,000 records with an annual increase rate of 10,000 references.

Training

CEPIS contributes to the education and training of environmental health specialists through the dissemination of technical information, courses organized with national and international institutions, and residence programs for professors. CEPIS is now engaged in the preparation of distance learning and self-instructional courses.

CEPIS high level specialists work together with the countries in their searching for a healthy environment.

The library of the Center has one of the most updated collections on environmental health in the Region, which also has access through Internet.

CEPIS laboratory is equipped to analyze the most complex environmental samples.

The publications unit prepares, translates, prints and distributes manuals, guidelines, training modules, educational packages, technical documents, videotapes, and other materials related to environmental risk control.

CEPIS auditorium is equipped with simultaneous translation facilities. In addition, meeting rooms are available for conferences and workshops.

CEPIS provides technical cooperation to national agencies –public and private–, educational and research centers, local governments, NGOs, professionals, and students.

Additional information can be provided by request to the address   through PAHO/WHO Country Representatives.
Los Pinos 259, Urb. Camacho – Lima 12, Peru
Casilla de Correo 4337 – Lima 100, Peru
Telephone: (51-1) 437-1077
Fax: (51-1) 437-8289
Internet: cepis@cepis.ops-oms.org
http://www.cepis.ops-oms.org

 

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