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Today marks the 2nd World Environmental Health Day and the City of Tshwane’s Municipal Health Services (MHS) unit has lined-up a number of activities as to raise awareness within the communities on burning issues of environmental health interest.

The first ever World Environmental Health Day was celebrated by Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) and institutes around the globe on 26 September 2011 when it was launched by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) with a proclamation at its September Council Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

Since then, the decision was taken that the day will be celebrated annually to observe the environmental health challenges that people live under, the struggles that the professionals experience, the ignorance displayed by ordinary people about the importance of caring for the environment and the ongoing environmental degradation resulting from the development that is going on in the global village.

The national theme for this year’s World Environmental Health Day is: “Placing Environmental Health at the heart of human health”.

Issues relating to excessive barking of dogs which has become a city-wide problem, vagrancy and pollution of water bodies will take a centre stage from today. This will culminate in an environmental health seminar where an interactive discussion session and presentations will take place to address issues of environmental health importance in the city.

Some of the commemoration activities are as follows:

Education and training of informal food traders
George Mukhari Hospital and Ga-Rankuwa City Shopping Centre
From 09:00
26 September 2012

Community awareness on prevention of excessive dog barking and responsible animal keeping
Jacaranda Mall
09:00
26 September 2012

Stream rehabilitation project and clean-up operation
Prinshof School
08:00
27 September 2012

Environmental Health Seminar
Sammy Marks Health Complex
From 08:00
28 September 2012

The seminar at the Sammy Marks Health Complex will be targeting politicians in the local government arena, environmental health professionals and professional bodies, students, research institutions, NGOs, forums and organizations representing the interests of environmental health practitioners and relevant government departments.
For more information please contact Mr Sello Mphaga at (012) 358 8747 or email: SelloMp@tshwane.gov.za