CEHANET regional environmental health information network for improving access to water information in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR)

CEHANET experience in improving the access to community water supply and sanitation literature in the EMR is presented focusing on its achievements and main constraints and difficulties that are obstructing the flow of information. Achievements could not have been achieved without the strong collaboration and coordination efforts between national and international water related agencies. Constraints and obstacles are, more or less, the same that are facing information exchange activities in developing countries. However, the problem is being magnified by additional language constraints and barriers, poor networking and communication at the national levels, and lack of awareness of the importance of information in supporting decision-making. CEHANET plans and activities to overcome these constraints can be categorized in two categories, first is provision of reliable technical information, and second is strengthening the national information exchange capacity and networking. The article also provides brief description of CEHA's efforts in monitoring the water supply and sanitation sections. The article was concluded by some lessons that have been learned by CEHANET throughout its experience in the Region. (author's abstract)