Page 54 - UGU Dstrct Mun IDP Report '21-22

3.3 Environmental Health Services (EHS)
The environment in which people live has the potential to be promotive of health or to impact negatively on health due to the presence of various environmental health risks. The Economic Development and Environmental Services Department which is tasked to mitigate against such risks and ensure promotion of a healthy environment. EHS cannot achieve this in isolation but works with various internal and external role players to impact on the nine (9) core functional areas of the Municipal Health services as defined in the National Health Act. It is also imperative that bylaws are established to guide the Municipal Health services.
3.3.1 Food Control
All food outlets are inspected regularly, to ensure that they comply with health requirements and, that food is prepared under sound and hygienic conditions, to prevent foodborne illnesses. In those instances where contraventions are found, the necessary statutory notice is served, to ensure compliance. This includes:
I. Food safety in respect of acceptable microbiological and chemical standards and quality of all food for human
consumption and optimal hygiene control throughout the food supply chain from point of origin, all primary ground, or
raw products production up to the point of consumption.
II. Food inspection at production, distribution and consumption area
III. Informal Street Trading Monitoring.
Food premises inspection and control of stationary nuisances.
IV. Enforcement of food legislation and Codex Alimentarius.
V. Food quality monitoring programmes and principles through various techniques e.g. HACCP.
Promote the safe transportation, handling, storage and preparation of food stuffs used in the Primary School Nutrition
programme (PSNP), Prisons, Health Establishments, Airports, etc.
VI. Promote safe handling of meat and meat products including Abattoir inspections.
VII. Promote the safe handling of milk and milk products.
3.3.2 Water Quality Monitoring
It is our objective, to ensure that water consumed by the residents of Ugu District, is safe and wholesome and water utilized for recreational purposes is in compliance to regulations thereby preventing water borne diseases. To this end, water samples are taken monthly, from various sources, viz. tankers, standpipes, rivers, lagoons, and boreholes, for testing. Monitoring water quality and availability, including mapping of water source. Enforcement of laws and regulations related to water quality management.
• Ensuring water safety in respect of safe quality (microbiological and chemical), and accessibility to an adequate quantity
for domestic use as well as in respect of the quality of water for recreational, industrial, food production and any other
human and animal use.
• Ensuring that water supplies that are readily accessible to Communities and to the planning, design, management and
health surveillance of community water supplies that are readily accessible to Communities.
• Ensuring monitoring and effective wastewater treatment and water pollution control
• Advocacy on proper and safe water and waste water usage.
• Water sampling and testing
3.3.3 Communicable Diseases Control
Our role is preventative, rather than curative, therefore, Environmental Health Practitioners timeously investigate all communicable diseases. Health Education normally reinforce this, to ensure long term behavioural changes and, to reduce disease morbidity and mortality.
• Health and hygiene promotion is aimed at prevention of environmentally induced diseases and related communicable
diseases.
• Collection analyses and dissemination of epidemiological data and information (c) Use of Participatory Hygiene and
Sanitation Training (PHAST) approaches for effective control measures at Community Level.
• Epidemiological surveillances of diseases.
• Establishment of effective Environmental Health Surveillance and Information System.
• Develop environmental health measures with protocols reference to epidemics.
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