Leadership - Coordinate and consolidate diverse partnerships to leverage existing resources
- Capitalize on innovation and new technologies to expand access to clean water
- Conduct research to support decision-making systems
- Guide and support community-efforts to increase capacity and improve efficiency
- Advocate for effective oceans and water policy
Communication - Implement targeted education effortsto inform key stakeholder groups
- Create evidence-based, politically-astute communications packages to improve awareness and generate interest in oceans and water issues especially among health professionals
Oceans - Water - Health The ocean plays a crucial role in a variety of natural processes,
including, among many others, fresh water distribution and
climatological events which have a direct and lasting impact on the
health of human communities around the world. Looking at this theme from the land requires that we
understand that the ocean is not ?a place apart,? but rather an
essential part of the process of life: the hydrologic cycle, the food
cycle, and the biodiversity requisite to
understanding natural systems and their adaptation to human need. Looking at this theme from the sea requires that we understand that solutions to critical ocean problems must be
implemented on the land where the impact of population growth, agricultural and industrial development, and
human misunderstanding and indifference are challenging the ocean?s capacity for self-healing. Our Assumptions. The ocean is an inclusive global, social, and political ecosystem ? the ocean affects each of us and we affect the
ocean every day. In order to truly improve understanding, we must broaden the education base ? including
educating patients and families, amending medical school curricula, engaging nurses and pharmacists, and building
strategic alliances at all levels. Everything needs to be thought of ? and communicated ? in terms of public health. Trends and Developments. The world?s oceans are overstressed and clean water is growing more scarce. But, there is room for hope if we act
now. Recent discoveries of unique ocean life provide tangible values through biomedical advances. And, as other
advances in technology are increasingly available, the supply of investment money that could be devoted to water
in the private equity sector has grown exponentially. Our Vision. Access to safe, clean water and basic sanitation for all human beings. Recovery of the ocean environment through mitigation and change to provide the maximum benefit to human
health. Our Challenge. There has already been much work done by many brilliant minds. The challenge ahead is not to re-evaluate what
was or must be done, but to find areas where there is broad consensus among diverse constituencies and
move forward together. In the frantic pace of today?s world, there is a shortage of time to think and to act. And, while much research
remains to deepen our understanding of the world?s oceans, there is much that we already know and can act on
immediately. Our Opportunity. The international Water for Life decade begins in 2005, officially designated by the United Nations as an attempt to
cut in half the number of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and who do not have
access to basic sanitation. A distinguished group of leaders from more than fifteen countries, including medical doctors and research
scientists, non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives, public health officials, business leaders and
government officials crafted a succinct list of ideas to be pursued by both human scientists and physical scientists
in the years ahead. It is their hope that the following ideas will achieve these strategic expectations, ultimately reaching an audience
of millions around the world, and contributing to the immediate solution of critical problems and to positive change. 
Coordinate and consolidate diverse partnerships
to leverage existing resources First Win Develop partnerships and alliances with the World Medica
Association, World Ocean Observatory, and Pfizer Medical
Humanities
Initiative, as well as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), the United Nations and the World Health
Organization. Additional Actions Create a ?network of networks? and a basis for public discourse
and education about oceans, water and public health Engage
private sector for advancement of ocean, water and public health
issues Develop a global business coalition for the oceans, water
and public health Institute a framework to foster cooperation
among governments, nongovernmental organizations, physicians
and scientists with respect to conservation and sustainable use of
ocean resources. Encourage civic associations to engage their local chapters in
efforts to improve the supply of fresh, clean water to communities
who lack it. Capitalize on innovation and new technologies
to expand access to clean water First Win Encourage patient and consumer use of high-impact, low-cost, point-of-use filtration for drinking water. Additional Actions Identify additional cost-effective technologies such as low-flow toilets and UV wastewater treatment systems. Conduct research to support decisionmaking systems and communications efforts First Win Support strategic actions to counter the negative impacts of toxins in coastal waters, including research analysis of
organohalogens, heavy metals and inorganic compounds. Additional Actions Advocate augmented research activities and communications efforts concerning the ocean?s biomedical potential to
government agencies, international organizations and the private sector Define and establish a physician / pharmacist / nurse sentinel surveillance system - a mechanism for health
professionals to continually gather data based on indicators that, when triggered, should illuminate concerns
within the health system Support aquaculture and genetic engineering as ways to produce bulk supplies of chemicals for biomedical
research Guide and support community-building efforts to increase capacity and improve
efficiency First Win Explore ways to control and regulate the drilling of wells and installation of septic tank systems in the context of
public health Additional Actions Strive for sustainable development using existing municipal controls ? such as licensing or zoning ? as a
costeffective alternative to industrial treatment Replicate smaller models throughout the world to duplicate successes while avoiding problems associated with
upscaling Increase scientific training through investing in infrastructure, education, and equipment in order to increase global
research capabilities and enact long-term and sustainable development in host countries Build alliances with other organizations to advocate for smart growth to sprawl reduction Further support current drug-discovery programs, such as those by the International Cooperative Biodiversity
Group, in biodiversity-rich areas that are economically poor Advocate for effective ocean and water policy First Win Use Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) to inform local policymakers of need to deal with basic sanitation and safety
issues Additional Actions Conduct a survey of local elected officials and policymakers to identify potential champions for ocean resource
development Support the development of ?quiet zones? that would range from simple nofishing zones to fully-fledged marine
protected areas 
Implement targeted education efforts to inform
key stakeholder groups First Wins Distribute educational pocket-sized guides about ocean-friendly
seafood and other nutritional information for patients and
consumers through public health officials and secondary schools Additional Actions Seek funding to launch comprehensive education programs for
developing nations to help decrease contamination of water and
increase access to quality water Alter medical school curricula to include more oceans and water
courses Create paid internships and summer jobs for first and second year
medical students Change the framing and perception of environmental actions as
public health actions Organize an informal speakers bureau for health organization
meetings and conferences to inform and educate about water and
ocean issues Create evidence-based, politically-astute
communications packages to improve
awareness and generate interest in oceans
and water issues especially among health
professionals First Wins Approach medical publications ? such as JAMA ? for a theme issue on water and oceans Create a communications plan to be used for the international Water for Life decade (2005 ? 2015) Additional Actions Create templates that communicate the value of water to patients and consumers in useful formats such as bill
inserts, mass transit advertising campaigns and pocket-sized brochures Formalize an Oceans for Health network of professional communicators Create ?mind-maps? on why physicians and patients should be interested in these issues The World Ocean Forum ? a rare opportunity for leading scientists and policy experts from the public and private
sectors to engage in such close discussion of vital issues ? was made possible by a partnership between the
World Medical Association, World Ocean Observatory and the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative. 
?Access to safe water is a fundamental human need and therefore a basic human right.?
Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General 
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