A snapshot of Vector Control – a function of Environmental Health Practitioners

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“Today I am going to be speaking about one of the nine (9) functional areas of Municipal Health Services, which is Vector Controlling. Some interesting statistics – according to research, vector-borne diseases account for approximately 17% of the estimated global burden of infectious diseases. Now, what are these vectors? Vectors include insects or animals that spread an infectious disease through a bite or contact with urine, faeces, blood or other body excretions or fluids. Vectors include mosquitoes, flies, ticks, rodents, cockroaches or fleas. Diseases spread by vectors include malaria, Dengue fever, Zika virus, Yellow fever, Rift Valley fever and plague. The role of an Environmental Health Practitioner in vector controlling is to; one, understand the vector, and how it transmits infectious pathogens; two – to monitor the possible existence of environmental factors that can create a conducive environment for vectors; three – to conduct case investigations of vectors; lastly – health education on preventative measures. Preventative measures for pest control include proper waste management, good housekeeping, and elimination or removal of conducive environments that will lead to the breeding of pests. It is of utmost importance for businesses to have a pest control programme in place.

The effective execution of pest control programmes must be regularly monitored. Therefore, EHPs appeal to the public to report any nuisance caused by vectors to the Municipal Health Section of Garden Route District Municipality on 044 803 1300,” – Lusizo Kwetshube, Environmental Health Practitioner, Garden Route District Municipality.

Regional contact numbers of EHP Chiefs:

𝗛𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗠𝗿. 𝗛𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗲𝗹𝘀 – Cell: +27(0)83 678 6545
𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝘆: 𝗠𝗿. 𝗦𝗮𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 – Cell: +27(0)83 630 6108
𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗮: 𝗠𝘀. 𝗘𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀 – Cell: +27(0)78 457 2824
𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝗠𝗿. 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗮𝘁𝗵 – Cell: +27(0)83 644 8858
𝗞𝗻𝘆𝘀𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗠𝗿. 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆 – Cell: +27(0)82 805 9417
𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗼𝘂 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗠𝗿. 𝗚𝗮𝘄𝗶𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝘀 – Cell: +27(0)83 557 1522
𝗞𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗼: 𝗠𝗿. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘀𝗲 – Cell: +27(0)83 678 6530

Read more about Environmental Health Practitioners here.

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