Environmental Health Issues

Three more new cases taking the tally to fifty one,

Update: 8 more new cases, now in Zimbabwe we are at 40 confirmed cases. Serious contact tracing and testing, testing, testing is needed. Stay home and stay safe!

👏👏👏

Covid-19 cases have risen to 31 with 3 new cases according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care. 2 of the 3 new cases are due to local transmission. Stay home and be safe!

-19. 29 cases recorded to date. Stay home and stop the spread!

How best can we help the most impoverished communities in Zimbabwe who cannot afford building materials to achieve zero-open defaecation and reduce the incidence of diarrhoel diseases?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency over a new coronavirus that has killed at least 490 people in mainland China and two more elsewhere following an outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
Read more...
http://www.greatdykenews24.co.zw/coronavirus-all-you-need-to-know-about-symptoms-and-risks/

Coronavirus: All You Need To Know About Symptoms And Risks. - greatdyke news The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency over a new coronavirus that has killed at least 490 people in mainland China and two more elsewhere following an outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. More than 24,500 cases have been reported worldwide, most of them...

Rural areas in most parts of Zimbabwe are facing serious shortages of safe water come dry season. This is due to scanty rainfall being received in the 2020 rainy season. As most rural populations depend on drilled boreholes using type B bush pumps, the water tables are receding which will make it difficult for people to draw water. Village heads will be forced to ration the water like what was seen in the past with a standard family of 5 living on 2 buckets of water per day. What can really be done to address this issue? So that our people are sustained through the dreadful dry season.

As the Environmental Health Department, what can we possibly do here in Zimbabwe to make sure we stop the Coronavirus outbreak from hitting us?

GOALS AND PRINCIPLES OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

The ultimate goal of primary health care is the
attainment of better health services for all. It is for this reason that World Health Organization (WHO), has identified five key elements to achieving this goal:reducing exclusion and social disparities in health (universal coverage reforms); organizing health services around people's needs and expectations (service delivery
reforms); integrating health into all sectors (public policy reforms); pursuing collaborative models of policy
dialogue (leadership reforms); and increasing stakeholder participation. Behind these elements lies a series of basic
principles identified in the Alma Ata Declaration that should be formulated in national policies in
order to launch and sustain PHC as part of a
comprehensive health system and in coordination with other sectors:

[1] Equitable distribution of health care – according to this principle, primary care and other services to meet the main health
problems in a community must be provided
equally to all individuals irrespective of their
gender, age, caste, color, urban/rural location
and social class.

[2] Community participation – in order to make
the fullest use of local, national and other
available resources. Community participation
was considered sustainable due to its grass
roots nature and emphasis on self-sufficiency,
as opposed to targeted (or vertical) approaches dependent on international development assistance.

[3] Health workforce development – comprehensive health care relies on adequate
number and distribution of trained physicians,
nurses, allied health professions, community health workers and others working as a health team and supported at the local and referral levels.

[4]Use of appropriate technology – medical technology should be provided that is
accessible, affordable, feasible and culturally
acceptable to the community. Examples of
appropriate technology include refrigerators
for vaccine cold storage. Less appropriate could include, in many settings, body scanners
or heart-lung machines, which benefit only a
small minority concentrated in urban areas.
They are generally not accessible to the poor, but draw a large share of resources.

[5] Multi-sectional approach – recognition that
health cannot be improved by intervention
within just the formal health sector; other
sectors are equally important in promoting the
health and self-reliance of communities. These
sectors include, at least: agriculture (e.g. food security); education; communication (e.g.
concerning prevailing health problems and the
methods of preventing and controlling them);
housing; public works (e.g. ensuring an
adequate supply of safe water and basic
sanitation); rural development; industry; community organizations (including Panchayats or local governments, voluntary organizations, etc.).

In sum, PHC recognizes that health care is not a
short-lived intervention, but an ongoing process
of improving people's lives and alleviating the
underlying socioeconomic conditions that
contribute to poor health. The principles link
health and development, advocating political interventions, rather than passive acceptance of economic conditions.

What is Primary Health Care?

Primary health care (PHC) refers to "essential health care" that is based on scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology,
which make universal health care universally accessible to individuals and families in a
community. It is through their full participation
and at a cost that the community and the country
can afford to maintain at every stage of their
development in the spirit of self-reliance and self- determination". In other words, PHC is an approach to health beyond the traditional health care system that focuses on health equity- producing social policy. PHC includes all areas that play a role in health, such as access to health services, environment and lifestyle. Thus, primary health care and public health
measures, taken together, may be considered as the cornerstones of universal health systems. This ideal model of health care was adopted in
the declaration of the International Conference on
Primary Health Care held in Alma Ata , Kazakhstan in 1978 (known as the "Alma Ata Declaration "), and became a core concept of the World Health Organization's goal of Health for all. The Alma- Ata Conference mobilized a "Primary Health Care
movement" of professionals and institutions,
governments and civil society organizations,
researchers and grassroots organizations that
undertook to tackle the "politically, socially and
economically unacceptable" health inequalities in all countries. There were many factors that
inspired PHC; a prominent example is the Barefoot doctors of China. ~wikipedia.com

Wikipedia

EHP' Job description

Goal:

To safeguard public health through the control of all factors in the physical environment that exercise deleterious effects on man’s physical development, health and survival.

Functions/Services provided:

i. Premises inspections

EHTs and EHOs inspect schools, hospitals, mines, factories, trading premises and other public institutions to ensure that standards of hygiene are maintained and that public health regulations are complied with. Advice is also given to communities on construction of improved housing.

ii. Food Quality Monitoring

All food for sale to the public including food arriving from other countries to be sold in Zimbabwe is inspected to ascertain its quality. Food samples are also collected and submitted to the laboratory for analysis in order to determine its quality, suitability for consumption and compliance with the law.

iii. Water Quality Monitoring

Sanitary inspections are conducted on drinking water sources and water samples are collected for analysis using field techniques and laboratory techniques. The chemical, bacteriological and aesthetic quality of all drinking water is ascertained through these inspections and sample analysis.

iv. Water and Sanitation Promotion

The department represents the Ministry in the National Action Committee activities on water and sanitation. EHTs and EHOs provide technical know-how on the construction and maintenance of the Blair Ventilated Pit Latrine and the upgraded shallow wells through participatory hygiene education and technical know-how. They train the builders and support community efforts in water and sanitation projects.

v. Disease Prevention and Control

The department is responsible for investigating cases of infectious diseases and tracing contacts of these diseases. In this way the source of infection and possible number of people infected can be established. EHTs and EHOs are also responsible for disease epidemic preparedness and control for priority diseases i.e. epidemic prone diseases, diseases targeted for elimination and diseases of Public Health of International Concern (PHEIC). The department also establishes and maintains disease surveillance structures like sentinel sites.

vi. Port Health Activities

The department has PHTs and PHOs stationed at all designated international airports and frontier posts to inspect vaccination certificates, imported foodstuffs and chemicals. They also inspect public premises at the ports of entry to ensure that public health nuisances are prevented or dealt with appropriately. They also process the clearance of bodies of Zimbabweans who die in foreign countries and return home for burial.

vii. Public Health Legislation

To protect the citizens of Zimbabwe and visitors to Zimbabwe, members of the Environmental Public Health Department enforce the provisions of all the Public Health Laws. They also review the laws regularly to bring them in line with prevailing situations.

viii. Health and Hygiene Promotion

Through the use of participatory and other health education techniques EHOs and EHTs counsel members of the public and influence voluntary change to positive behaviour, attitudes and practices on health issues. In this regard the unit provides education on disease prevention, nutrition, food hygiene and safety, personal and general hygiene, and on waste disposal. The health and hygiene service is provided in all contacts that the department makes with the community.

ix. Interaction with External Agencies

The department interacts with among others the following organizations in the implementation of its programs:

UNICEF
WHO
European Union

Happy graduation Jan 2011 intake!!

Registering for October/November examinations remains a unknown fate for most students who have fees arrears in most institutions. Unanswered questions are still hovering over the minds of these students, what is going to happen to them?, are they going to register for their exams this year?, what if they are not allowed to register?. This is exactly the time the intervention of those responsible for us is extremely needed. PLEASE DO SOMETHING!

We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Muyambo family for the sad passing on of one of our fellow students Tafirenyika Muyambo who was in his final year (Environmental Health) at Mutare Polytechnic. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace..

Why is it that Environmental Health students always bear their burdens and grievances on their own while the nursing students are supported all the way through their diplomas yet we belong to the same ministry?

I think more Meat Hygiene trips will help the ND2 students to understand what they are being taught in class.

Evening

The week has finally arrived where mwana wemunhu is going to descend on the white paper to exhibit what has been learnt for the last nine months. For now it has been a hectic 3 weeks in the life of a TEHT, pages rustling throughout the day, voices whispering in near-empty lecturerooms all in a bid to polish what has been gained.

Wish u all the best

DJM

EXAM T/TABLE OCT/NOV 2013
---------------------------------
ND1
-----
Epiderm:30/10/13.......09--12
Food Sci:30/10/13.......14--17
S/psycho:31/10/13.......09--12
Parasitol :31/10/13.......14--17
Physical :01/11/13........09--12
Research :01/11/13........14--17

Pliz inform print and display
---------------------------------
NC 2013
••••••••
NASS..............28/10/13......9~~12
Intro to comp28/10/13...14~17
ESD....................29/10/13....9~~12
OJT.........29/10/13.submit marks
Building.pract..01/11/13...9~~12
HAP......................01/11/13...14~17
Microbiology....05/11/13..9~12
Sanitation..........06/11/13...9~12
Com diseases...06/11/13..14~17
Health comm....07/11/13..9~12

----NFC
Not available in the coppy that l have.
Thank you.

now busy preparing for the forthcoming exams which are around the corner....

With most of our institutions closing this week, there is a possibility of a clean 2 weeks of sitting at home....resting..

All thanks and praise to the Almighty for taking us this far. We are now reachng towards the end of this term alive and kicking not because of our knowledge or our wisdom but because of His everlasting grace. Let's praise him because he is so awesome.
Have a nice day

Zimbabwe has also shown remarkable progress
towards malaria pre-elimination in some districts. At
80 percent success rate, we have also recorded
significant advancements in TB treatment.
All these are laudable milestones. What seemed
improbable just ten years ago is being achieved
thanks to hard work and commitment of
Zimbabwe’s health officials and strong partnerships
between the government and international donors.~ Dr Henry Madzorera

The Sub Sahara region continues to battle with the HIV
and AIDS pandemic as the most affected region in the
world. Zimbabwe had an estimated prevalence of HIV
pegged at 13.6% in 2010. By the end of 2009,
approximately 1,1 million people in the country were
living with HIV and AIDS. Although the estimated
annual AIDS deaths decreased from 123,000 in 2006 to
84,000 at the end of 2009, AIDS remains a leading
cause of death in Zimbabwe. The dual epidemic of TB
and HIV also continues to be a major factor in
morbidity and mortality among PLHIV, especially in
sub-Saharan Africa, undermining efforts to prevent
and control HIV. In Zimbabwe and it is estimated that
approximately 80% of TB cases are co-infected with
HIV. It is estimated that 25% of all children in
Zimbabwe are orphaned due to AIDS~ The battle rages on... We still have a great deal of work out there.

Prevention is better than cure, which means our department is better in the ministry, let's strive for excellence in every aspect of our studies. Good Morning

Schools will now close on July 26 instead of
August 4, 2013.
“This is necessary to enable the participation of
teachers in this national exercise as well as the
use of schools as polling stations,” Coltart said in
a statement posted on his website yesterday.
The minister said in order to compensate for lost
time, third term will now commence on
September 3, 2013 instead of September 10, 2013
but the closing date remains the same.

Symposium ladies and gentleman

zvakadii mattsanana, tym 4 attchment

assignment build up,,,, get busy

matsanana murisei?

After all z bn said and done.