Session 3 Env Health Apr 2020 PDF

The environmental health officer and environmental health services Dr Sydney Carstens Introduction In this last presentation of three on environmental health we focus on the different environmental health services provided in South Africa and the role and functions of the environmenta...

The environmental health officer and environmental health services Dr Sydney Carstens Introduction In this last presentation of three on environmental health we focus on the different environmental health services provided in South Africa and the role and functions of the environmental health officer. After studying this online learning material you should be able to: Briefly describe the role of local health authorities in rendering environmental health services List and briefly describe environmental health services provided by local municipalities List the main functions of the environmental health officer in the provision of these services The role of local health authorities What is a local authority? It is a basically a demarcated geographical area managed at local government level (local versus provincial versus national). It can have the form of a large metropolitan municipality (e.g. City of Cape Town or Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality), municipality in smaller towns or district municipality in the rural areas. Under the Constitution of South Africa these municipalities have the responsibility to provide a range of environmental health services (all other personal health services e.g. community child health, maternal health, infectious diseases and hospital services is provided at provincial government level) The National Department of Health annually fund a budget for environmental health services as provided by local authorities (where as other local authority services e.g. provision of water, electricity, refuse removal etc., is funded by local authority taxes on rate payers ((property owners)) living in the geographical boundaries of the local authority What environmental health services are provided at local authority level? Health surveillance of premises Residential, business and public premises are regularly monitored to ensure that there are no health nuisances. This is done to ensure compliance with the applicable legislation and the minimisation of any detrimental environmental health risk Surveillance and prevention of communicable diseases (excluding immunisations) This service is performed in close co-operation with the community health services provided by the provincial government, especially when investigating infectious disease outbreaks that are associated with environmental hazards Environmental health officers obtain samples for analysis and take remedial and preventative action. The applicable legislation is enforced by serving compliance notices What environmental health services are provided at local authority level? Health promotion and training programs on healthy lifestyles, personal hygiene and a safe and healthy environment Water quality monitoring Environmental health officers monitor the quality and availability of water intended for human consumption, recreational, commercial and industrial use by taking water samples at these water sources (incl. sea water sampling where applicable) which is then analysed and compared to national standards for chemical and biological contamination Also has the responsibility to investigate water borne disease outbreaks (e.g. cholera, dysentery, polio) What environmental health services are provided at local authority level? Air quality monitoring To reduce air pollution and apply legislation in this regard Identify, investigate and monitor possible pollution sources and institute remedial action (e.g. diesel fuelled vehicles and buildings with poor indoor air quality) Noise management Sources of noise (both residential and industrial) will be investigated, noise measurements will be performed where applicable and transgression notices will be issued where prescribed noise levels are exceeded What environmental health services are provided at local authority level? Food safety management All food should be safe, wholesome and fit for human consumption , should conform with safety, nutritional and quality standards and be accurately labelled by law Environmental health officers evaluate food premises and food transportation vehicles and issue certificates of acceptability They also take food samples for analyses and examine food labels Educate food providers in both formal and informal sector on food safety Investigate food borne disease outbreaks What environmental health services are provided at local authority level? Vector control Outbreaks and spread of communicable diseases by vectors/pests (e.g. cockcroaches, rats) are prevented by vector control programs (spraying, baiting and fumigation with environmentally friendly pesticides) Disposal of the dead This involves the monitoring of funeral undertakers, mortuaries, embalmers, crematoriums and cemeteries and issuing certificate of competence to operators Chemical safety Identifying, monitoring, evaluating and preventing the unsafe use, improper handling and disposal of chemicals that are harmful to health of community members (pesticides, paraffin etc.) Animal control services (cart horses, stray dogs etc. Work is done in close collaboration with animal welfare societies) Environmental health officer It is an official employed by the local authority to render environmental health services as explained in the previous slides Formally trained in environmental health sciences, with a Higher Diploma or Degree in Environmental Health sciences They are usually the contact at the local authority’s Environmental Health section who the medical practitioner will contact to report notifiable medical conditions which may originate from exposure to environmental hazards Paraffin poisoning – env. health services can run a campaign around paraffin safety Waterborne disease outbreak – env. health services can identify potential sources take water samples and implement remedial actions e.g. water chlorination/purification Foodborne disease outbreaks – env. health services can assist in identifying potential sources, inspect food preparation areas for compliance, take microbial swabs of surfaces, take food samples for analyses and educate food handlers