The Environmental Health has the mandate to ensure that all factors that tend to have adverse effects on human health in the environment are brought under control. It therefore behooves the Environmental Health Unit, with support from the Assembly, to ensure that this responsibility is executed in accordance with the Environmental laws.
SANITATION
The 2010 Population and Housing Census (PHC) identifies the following as the toilet facilities in the district; Water Closets, Pit Latrines, KVIP and Open Defecation.
The 2010 PHC identifies that 1.6% households uses Water Closet, 26% uses Pit Latrines, 9.9% uses KVIP, 15.7% uses Public Toilets and the rest uses Open Defecation. However, the district has declared many of these communities ODF.
The Unit is therefore to assess, correct, control and prevent those factors in the environment which can adversely affect the health of both present and future generations.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SANITATION UNIT.
a. THE FRONTLINE OFFICERS
The frontline officers of the Environmental Health and Sanitation are responsible for enforcing environmental health standards within the District.
The specific responsibilities of these officers are as follows:
1. Creating and maintaining a database on all premises of environmental importance to the District.
2. Inspection of all premises identified for their state of sanitation and public health e.g. Domiciliary, Health care, Industries, Hospitality industries, Schools, Shops etc to ascertain as to their state of sanitation and necessary action taken for their remedy.
3. Monitoring environmental sanitation facilities and activities.
4. Compilation and reporting of problems requiring inter-sectoral collaboration.
5. Management of complaints.
6. Providing health education and promotion activities.
b. HOW TO ACHIEVE THE ABOVE
1. Serving on the central management Board.
2. Providing leadership direction to the sub teams.
3. Collating and analyzing data.
4. Identifying priority or generalizing problems.
5. Producing local plans of action.
6. Creating and maintaining a database on all premises of environmental health importance.
7. Monitoring environmental health activities in the metropolis. e. g. burial grounds, pet and pest control, poultry and livestock rearing.
8. Carrying out pre-inspection of facilities on behalf of the District for registration by EHMD and licensing by the Assembly.
9. Compilation and reporting of outcomes and problems requiring inter-sector collaboration.
10. Monitoring and management of complaints.
11. Planning health promotion activities in support of programmes being implemented.
12. Interpreting sanitation bye-laws to the general public.
