ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UNIT- PROFILE
INTRODUCTION
The ecological concern is the honour of our time. We have to at least realize that the earth is our great wealth and that we must imperatively protect it in order to save the future. It is our natural dwelling place but human beings could make a desert out of it or render it a discharge.
In order to protect this natural place, Environmental health which is a branch of public health is concerned with monitoring or mitigating those factors in the environment that affect human health and disease.
Objectives of the Unit
To develop and validate the environmental health engagement profile which is an instrument for assessing the very way people engage environmental issues including people’s experience of environmental health hazards, assumptions concerning the risk involved and actions taken either individual or collectively in their community
Goals
To promote healthier environments to improve health.
Staffing
|
Category |
number |
|
Chief Environmental health officer |
1 |
|
Principal Environmental health officer |
1 |
|
Chief Environmental health Assistance |
4 |
|
Assistant Chief Environmental Health Assistant |
1 |
|
Assistant Environmental health Analyst |
1 |
|
Environmental health officer Grad II |
2 |
|
Principal environmental health assistant |
2 |
|
Senior Environmental Health Assistant |
6 |
|
Environmental Health Assistant |
7 |
Male 9
Female 16
Total 25
Sanitary Labourers
Male 7
Female 17
Total 24
The Principal Components Of The Environmental Health
The unit supervise and monitors the following
- Collection and disposal of waste in general
- Drainage cleansing
- Cleansing of thoroughfares, markets and other public places
- Control of pest and Vectors of public health importance
- Food safety and hygiene practices
- Environmental Health Education
- Inspection and enforcement of environmental health regulations
- Disposal of the dead
- Control of rearing and straying of animals
- Monitoring the observance of environmental health standards
Roles And Responsibilities Of An Environmental Health Officer
The environmental health officer also known as public health inspector or environmental health practitioners are responsible for carrying out measures for protecting public health including administration and enforcing legislations related to environmental health and providing support to minimize health and safety hazards. They monitor and inspect water, food, air, land, facilities and other environmental factors (factor external to person) safe of environmental health hazards, whether biological, chemical or physical. Address the related factors that impact positive behavioral change. Environmental health officers assess and control environmental health factors that can potentially affect health prevent diseases and create health-supportive environments.
Environmental determinants of health play a major role in a community’s and societal overall health and wellbeing and thus environmental health officers are essential in improving population health outcome and reducing the burden of disease. They focused on prevention, consultation of communities regarding health risks and maintaining a safe environment.
CLICK TO VIEW IMAGES OF SOME ACTIVITIES SUPERVISED BY THE UNIT