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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
INTRODUCTION
AND BACKGROUND
The
relationship between the environment and health was recognized by
the health services of this country as far back as 1913 by the creation
of the Sanitary Branch of the Civil Medical Department, which was
the precursor of the present public health services. Several special
initiatives like the Disease Control Programs, Epidemiology Unit,
Family Health Bureau, Health education Bureau etc were created to
cater to special public health needs, but there was no special emphasis
on Environmental Health other than the creation of a post of Director
(Environmental & Occupational Health) attached to the office
of the DDG (PHS).
The
need to create an Environmental Health Unit (or Cell) within the
Health Ministry was mainly a response to the requests of outside
agencies like the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources.
The
origin of the Health Department initiative to set up an Environmental
Health Unit was in the year 2000
The
main areas of responsibility of the Environmental Health Unit are:
i)
All matters dealing with health and the environment
ii) Occupational Health Services
HUMAN
RESOURCE
1.
Dr. G.L Hapugoda was the Actg. Director (E&OH) up to
31.05.2002 and
Dr.
C K Shanmugarajah, Director PHC was appointed as the Director (E&OH)
on 01.06.2002
2.
The post of Principal Public Health Inspector was occupied
by Mr. B A J
Dharmawardena
and as he retired Mr. P.G.D.Tillakaratne was appointed as the PPHI.
3.
Clerical and typing work was handled by the staff in the
DDG (PHS) office.
4.
There was one casual male labourer attached to the Unit.
5.
Services of two National Consultants were obtained under
WHO assistance: one is to review public health legislation and the
other to review roles & job functions of selected public health
staff. Also the services of a Coordinator was procured under WHO
assistance to assist the Director (E&OH) in developing an Environmental
health information system by revising and re-introducing the Monthly
Reports of PHIs, and developing formats for reporting at district,
provincial and national levels.
6.
The services of Ms. S T K K Fernando (M.Sc. Env. Science)
was loaned to the EH Unit by the Ministry of Environment under the
World Bank funded EA1Project.
7.
Funds were provided to a PPA of the Ministry of Health (Mr.
S.A.C.N Jayatillake) by the Ministry of Environment to follow a
M. Sc degree in Environmental Sciences in order to get his services
to strengthen the Environmental Cell. He will be joining the unit
in 2003 after completion of the course.
FACILITIES
1.
The E. H Unit was located in Ministry Building
2.
Direct and intercom telephone facilities were available.
3.
Fax facilities were available.
4.
Photocopying facilities were available.
5.
Under the Strengthening of Environment Cell Ministry of Environment
& Natural Resources provided the following equipment.
Computer
Multimedia
Projector
Over
Head Projector
Fax
Machine
Photocopying
Machine
Conference
Table, Clerical Table and 9 Chairs.
Steel
cupboard were provided.
6.
Transport facilities had to be obtained from the Health Department
transport pool on request.
MAJOR
ACTIVITIES
1.
National
Environmental Action Plan
-
Co-ordination with the Ministry of Environment & Natural
Resources through participation in the National Steering Committee
and on development of the Environmental Health section update of
the NEAP 2002-2005
2.
Climate
Change
-
Co-ordinating with the Ministry of Environment and Natural
Resources and the Department of Meteorology through participation
in the Steering Committee, Co-ordinating Group and Technical Advisory
Committees on Climate Change.
3.
Hospital
Waste Management
-
Convening the Hospital Waste Management Committee and conducting
training on clinical waste management for larger hospitals. A consultant
(WHO/WB) carried out a survey and provided recommendations to improve
the existing health care waste management system. A national policy,
guidelines, action plan on health care waste management were developed
by the consultant and submitted for approval of the cabinet of ministers.
As the first step of the action plan, efforts were made to establish
a health care waste management facility for the major hospitals
in the CMC area. In this regard, assistance of the BOI was sought
to incorporate clinical waste management into the proposed hazardous
waste management facility by the BII.( Bureau of Infrastructure
Investment).
4.
Hazardous
Waste Regulations
-
Participating in the activities of the committee on Basal Convention
on trans -boundary movement of hazardous waste and developing guidelines
on Hazardous Waste Management.
5.
Co-ordinating environmental health activities of the
Suwa Udana Programme
6.
Organizing and conducting the Committee on Environmental
Policy and -Management (CEPOM) on Environmental Health in association
with the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources.
7.
Participating in the activities of the committee on
Bio Safety at the Ministry of Environment.
8.
Participation in the activities of the National Steering
Committee on Persistant Organic Pollutants (POPs) at the Ministry
of Environment & Natural Resources.
9.
Participation in the committee meeting on Chemical Safety
and development of national profile on chemical safety.
10.
Drafting
of Legislation on Prevention of Mosquito Born Diseases.
11.
Engaged
in the activities reviewing and Strengthening Information Systems.
12.
Waste Recycling Programme.
-As
part of the cleaner production initiative of the Ministry of Environment
& Natural Resources, commenced a programme on waste management
through recycling at the Ministry of Health
13.
Co-ordination
with National Water Supplies & Drainage Board on water supply
& sanitation projects
14.
Participation
in Pesticides Advisory Committee
15.
Conducted
series of Television Programme over a period of 8 months on Environmental
Health on Rupavahini
16.
Action
on complaints of environmental pollution received.
17.
Training
of DDHS & PHII on Occupational Health in collaboration with
the
Department of Labour and the Faculty of Medicine – Colombo.
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