Page 55 - UGU Dstrct Mun IDP Report '21-22

3.3.4 Vector Control
Vector control monitoring includes:
• Identification of vectors, their habits and breeding places.
• Vector control of public health interest including the control of anthropoids, molluscs, rodents and other alternative hosts
of diseases.
Investigations of issues that have a direct bearing on vector control, such as the infestation of premises with rodents, cockroaches, and wood borers, is addressed during the routine inspection of all food outlets. It is mandatory for the owner/ licensee of a food premises, to provide a certificate from a registered pest controller, indicating that the food premises have been sprayed against disease vectors.
3.3.5 Hazardous Chemical Substances
As part of the STOP (safety towards our people) initiative, premises are also inspected for hazardous chemical substances. It is necessary for those premises, responsible for the handling, storage and sale of hazardous chemical, substances, to ensure that such premises are registered with the Provincial Department of Health.
In terms of control and monitoring the following is undertaken:
• Ensuring that substances are correctly labelled.
• Ensuring that all active ingredients are indicated.
• Ensuring that warning signs are indicated.
• Ensuring that precautions are taken during storage and transportation and all protective gear is utilized during handling.
• To control the importation, manufacture, sale, operation, application, modification or dumping of such substances.
• To undertake licensing and registration of premises.
• Ensure that empty containers are disposed of according to requirements
3.3.6 Disposal of the Dead
All bodies must be disposed in terms of the mortals remains regulations and, provision is also made in our Public Health By-laws, for such disposal. Disposal of the dead involves the monitoring of funeral undertakers, mortuaries, embalmers, crematoriums, graves and cemeteries for compliance, and managing, controlling and monitoring exhumations and the reburial or disposal of human remains. EHPs are responsible for issuing a certificate of competence to compliant operators. In order to prevent the occurrence of nuisances at such premises, regulations for governing the establishment and operation of mortuaries are also explained to undertakers.
3.3.7 Surveillance of Premises
Regular inspections are conducted of residential, business and public premises, to ensure they comply with the necessary health legislation. In the event of non-compliance, the necessary statutory notices are served. Residential, business and public premises are regularly monitored to ensure that there are no health nuisances inter-alia, the following.
• Prevention and abatement of any condition on any premises which is likely to constitute a danger to health includes:
• Assessment of any overcrowded, dirty, or unsatisfactory condition in any residential, commercial, industrial or other occupied premises.
• Monitoring all buildings and all other temporary or permanent physical structure for residential, public or institutional use (including health care and other care, detainment, work and recreation including travel, tourism, holiday resorts and camping sites) as well as the facilities in connection therewith and the immediate precincts thereof.
3.3.8 Environmental Health Education
Health education is a very critical aspect of environmental health, as some of the health issues are being taken for granted by communities. This includes unhygienic food preparations, food contamination because of unhygienic surroundings and other factors such as non-compliance with basic standards, etc. The lack of education is a compounding factor to the high levels of ignorance of health-related issues amongst disadvantaged populations. Health education, being a critical aspect in environmental health, is prioritized for timely and accurate information to be disseminated to these disadvantaged communities. With more emphasis on appropriate water and sanitation practices and proper prevention techniques regarding food contamination, unhygienic surroundings can be eliminated.
IDP REVIEW 53