Environmental Health
The main objective of Environmental Health is to reduce the morbidity and mortality resulting from environmental related conditions and diseases. In order to accomplish this objective, the Environmental Health Department has the portfolio responsibility to formulate, adopt, promulgate, regulate, interpret and coordinate as well as supervise and monitor the implementation of policies, strategies and activities related to environmental health. The primary aim is to ensure a safe environment and sustainable development.
- i.Sanitation
The table below shows the number of VIP latrines that were completed, started and those that are still under construction per region.
Table 2.6. Number of Pit Latrines Completed
| Activity | Hhohho | Lubombo | Manzini | Shiselweni | Total | ||
| No. of VIP Latrines carried over from previous year | 517 | 999 | 435 | 503 | 2454 | ||
| No. of VIP Latrines started during the year | 682 | 803 | 635 | 370 | 2490 | ||
| No. of VIP Latrines completed during the year | 933 | 969 | 710 | 361 | 2973 | ||
| No. of VIP Latrines incomplete during the year | 266 | 833 | 360 | 512 | 1971 | ||
- ii.Health Education and Community Mobilization
Community member are trained on planning, implementation and maintenance of environmental health related projects such as water supply and sanitation. Hygiene education and community mobilization is important in the implementation of projects and it was in the form of community meetings, workshops, demonstrations and campaigns.
There were 1213 hygiene education sessions conducted nationally in different institutions i.e. communities, healthcare facilities and schools.
Table 2.7. Number of health promotion sessions By Different Institutions.
| Region | Type of Institution | |||
| Communities | Health Institutions | Schools | TOTAL | |
| Hhohho | 63 | 54 | 7 | 124 |
| Lubombo | 35 | 114 | 0 | 149 |
| Manzini | 270 | 285 | 76 | 631 |
| Shiselweni | 205 | 96 | 8 | 309 |
| Total | 573 | 549 | 91 | 1213 |
- iii.Safe Water Supply in Health Care Facilities
v The project for the provision of safe water has been completed at Jericho and Moti Clinics which are both situated in the Shiselweni Region.
v A contractor has been engaged for the installation of water systems at Dwaleni, Nhletjeni, Mhlosheni (Shiselweni Region) and Ngowane (Hhohho Region)
- iv.Food Hygiene and Safety
The objective of this activity is to ensure an improved food quality in order to prevent food borne illnesses. The department is involved in the inspection of trade premises and meat inspection. There were 6324 business premises inspected for purpose of license renewals, grants and routine monitoring for standard adherence. There were 4345 food animals inspected and passed for human consumption which 3017 bovines (cattle), 1164 porcines (pigs) and 81 ovines (sheep), 79 goats and 4 game.
Table 2.7. Number of Trade Premises Inspected
| Regions | Number of Premises Inspected |
| Hhohho | 1346 |
| Lubombo | 510 |
| Manzini | 4093 |
| Shiselweni | 375 |
| Total | 6324 |
Table 2.8. Number of Carcasses Inspected by Region
|
Regions |
Number of Carcases Inspected | |||||
| Cattle | Goats | Sheep | Pigs | Game | Total | |
| Hhohho | 1386 | 2 | 0 | 319 | 2 | 1709 |
| Lubombo | 738 | 12 | 0 | 530 | 0 | 1280 |
| Manzini | 684 | 63 | 81 | 255 | 0 | 1083 |
| Shiselweni | 209 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 273 |
| Total | 3017 | 79 | 81 | 1164 | 4 | 4345 |
- v.Health Care Waste Management
v The finalization of Healthcare Waste Policy and Regulations is still underway.
Chief Environmental Officer:
Mr Edmund Dlamini
Tel: +268 2404 5514