What is REPIDISCA?

The aim of the Pan American Information Network on Environmental Health (REPIDISCA) -created in 1982- is to disseminate available information on:

	Bsic Sanitation
	Healthy Settings
	Risk Assessment and Management

REPIDISCA selects and analyzes bibliographic material, especially documents produced in Latin America and the Caribbean. Priority is given to gray literature, such as research and technical reports, theses, conference papers, standards, videos, softwares and training material.

REPIDISCA is a decentralized system operating in Latin America and the Caribbean. National institutions, acting as Cooperating Centers, together with the National Coordinating Centers are responsible for the development of REPIDISCA in their countries. SDE/OPS is the Network Regional Coordinator and consolidates the information sent by the Cooperating Centers in several data bases.

The central node of REPIDISCA is in full process of transformation into a virtual library, adapting the software and common methodology provided by PAHO/BIREME. CEPIS has the willingness and capability to share with other institutions the tools for the cooperative construction of the BVSA in Peru and in other countries of the Region.

REPIDISCA Cooperating Centers (CCs) -352 in 23 Latin American and Caribbean countries- daily identify information on environmental health available in libraries, documentation centers and other information units located in the Latin American and Caribbean Region.

REPIDISCA is linked to other international information systems on the same topic Network and its data base is compatible with LILACS (Literatura Latinoamericana en Ciencias de la Salud).

Through the BVSA, REPIDISCA information services are available 24 hours a day.