Officials from the Eden District Municipal Health office in George celebrated “Mandela Day” by means of a clean-up operation at the Molen River in Thembalethu, George.
This operation was carried out in collaboration with the following stakeholders: Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency, DWS, Cape Nature, George Municipality (Waste Management & Expanded Public Works Programme) and a few community members of Thembalethu. Instead of 67 minutes, 100 minutes were devoted to the initiative as part of the “Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018” celebrations.
The Eden District Municipal Health Office in Hessequa visited the Kruisrivier and Goedgegund Primary schools (rural schools) where the team donated pencil bags, water bottles and school clothes to the learners.
It is always heart-warming to see the smile on the face of a child. However, the team feels it is disappointing that they “can not reach out to communities in this way, on a regular basis”.
Eden District Municipal Health officials from Bitou celebrated Madiba Day in Plettenberg Bay when they visited the New Life Crèche in Qolweni.
The team consisting of Mr Gawie Vos, Ms Zoleka Goniwe, Ms Nokuphiwa Mbali, Mr Yusuf Isaacs and Ms Busisiwe Jacobs assisted the staff with their daily duties including: hand washing, serving of food and washing of dishes. The visit was concluded on a high note when each toddler received a healthy party pack from the team.
Executive Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rosina Ruiters, and Cllr Erica Meyer, as well as Mr Sam Bendle, Ms Rinay Cloete, Ms Monique Anthony, Mr Lukanyo Mafuduka, Ms Delmarie Lewis and Ms Ikanya Hendricks from the Eden DM Municipal Health Office in Mossel Bay generously donated toiletries to the “Creating Effective Families” facility situated in D’Almeida, Mossel Bay. The toiletries were well received by representatives of the Facility.
Annually, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) of the Eden District Municipality’s (Eden DM) Municipal Health Service act proactively in planning and implementing mitigation measures and monitoring work schedules before, during and after the Oyster Festival. This is done to minimize and address public health issue that might arise during the festival.
This year, Knysna will be hosting the 37th Oyster Festival and it is anticipated that more than 50 000 visitors will visit the town during the 10-day event.
The EHPs from the Knysna office will be responsible for delivering the following services before and during the festival:
Environmental Health Practitioners must make sure that Oysters sold to the public is fit for human consumption.
FOOD CONTROL
Inspections of informal food premises will includes the following:
Daily inspections at the Oyster Festival “Hot Spots”;
Central Festival grounds inspections;
Inspections at various locations in town, where thousands of oysters will be kept under health prescribed conditions, impose by EHP’s;
Several batches of oyster samples have been dispatched to the Merieux Nutriscience Laboratory in Cape Town for bacteriological analysis, prior to the start of the festival in order to establish the status of the holding tank water, as well as the bacteriological oyster quality.
EHPs across the district have been requested to assist with the sampling and surveillance of oysters procured in other areas within the Southern Cape.
Drinking water (Sachets) to be provided to the athletes participating in the Forest Marathon, will be analyzed to ensure compliance as stipulated under the Bottled Water Regulations: “Regulation 692 of 1997, promulgated under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act (Act 54 of 1972)”.
WATER QUALITY MONITORING
Bacteriological water monitoring of the Knysna Estuary will be undertaken by sampling water at 14 identified sites in and around the estuary.
Bacteriological Water Monitoring at sites where recreational water – sport events will take place, will be monitored.
HEALTH SURVEILANCE OF PREMISES
Regular inspections and health surveillance of premises of all related public amenities will be undertaken during the Festival, including:
• Public toilet facilities;
• Accommodation establishments;
• Festival grounds;
• Food markets; and
• Tobacco control at premises.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE OUTBREAK
A strict communication protocol regarding the reporting of any communicable disease outbreak to the local District Municipal Health authority has been established with all relevant medical health care providers, which included both the Private and Provincial Hospitals, General Practitioners and Pharmacies.
Environmental Health is concerned with the health and well-being of people and other living things. This field of study does this by addressing elements of health and safety and assessing various physical, chemical, biological and social factors in the surrounding environment that may negatively impact the health of present and future generations.
Environmental Health Practitioner
Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs), sometimes referred to as Health Inspectors, play a critical role when communicable diseases are at large. EHPs’ role in such instances includes preventative measures which revolve around hygiene inspection of premises, the general environment, health education and awareness campaigns.
The content of this article will focus on one (1) key performance area of Municipal Health Services namely ‘Health Surveillance of Premises’ whereby only two (2) types of premises will be discussed, ie.
Cleaning and laundry facilities
Health surveillance on farms
Health surveillance of premises is a Municipal Health Services Function, performed by Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) of the relevant local authority.
The National Act of 2003 (Act 61 of 2003) specifies that environmental health inspections and investigations be undertaken. Environmental Health inspections involve the identification, monitoring and evaluation of health risks, nuisances and hazards on any premises and instituting remedial and preventative measures where necessary.
1. Cleaning and laundry establishments
Environmental health inspections focus on the following areas of a b:
Structural requirements:
The layout of the facility;
Ventilation requirements;
Drainage system(s);
Interior wall surfaces;
Ceilings;
Floor surfaces; and
Height from floor to ceiling.
Water supply and sanitation facilities:
Total toilet facilities and hand wash basins;
Toilet facility requirements;
Provision of change rooms determined by the number of employees working at the premises;
Provision of soap and disposable towels at hand wash basin; and
Effective drainage and sewage disposal system requirements.
Storage, work areas and facilities:
Provision of a workroom, fixed and movable equipment;
In the case of receiving depots – provision of a separate area;
Floor area requirements;
Provision of a separate area and separate designated counter for receiving and dispatching of articles;
Provision of area for receiving and marking of soiled and dirty articles (working tables, adequate containers, hanging rails and shelves);
Provision of storage room;
Provision of hazard-free lockable storage for chemicals;
Packaging shelves requirements;
Machinery and equipment equipped with adequate suction fans;
Provision of a separate pre-rinsing area; and
Sanitary conditions of all fittings, equipment and appliances.
General requirements:
Compliance with emission levels regarding the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act No. 39 of 2004);
Provision and requirements of staff kitchen; and
Fire department requirements.An inspection report indicating the conditions of the facility as well as recommendations (if any) will be issued to the owner or person in charge after every inspection.
2. Health surveillance on farms
The purpose of Municipal Health Services on farms is to enable the Municipality to protect and promote the long-term health and well-being of all people in the municipal area.
A suitable qualified EHP is appointed to perform duties as unpacked in the National Health Act (Act 61 of 2003) and Health Professions Act (Act.56 of 1974), to render municipal services routinely on an 18-month interval on every farm in the Garden Route District.
The municipal health services/functions require the following to comply with:
Structural facilities such as farm workers residence must comply with the requirements of the National Building Regulations and the Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977);
Drinking water supply and treatment method;
Proper drainage systems;
Waste management;
Vector control;
Safe storage and control of Hazardous Substances;
Sanitation; and
Other activities such as farmstalls, B&Bs or Guesthouses, Home industry and Creches.
It becomes more evident that many bacteria, especially foodborne diseases, come to life as a result of poor hygiene practices in kitchens. On 11 May 2018 Environmental Health Practitioner of the Eden District Municipality (Eden DM) employed at the Knysna office, Ms Mendy Tyhawana, facilitated a Health & Hygiene Training session at the Tapas & Oyster Restaurant in Knysna.
Twelve staff members from the Tapas & Oyster Restaurant in Knysna soon after the Health & Hygiene Training Session. With them in the picture are: Kitchen Manager of the restaurant, Mr Owen October (left) and Eden DM Environmental Health Practitioner, Ms Mendy Tyhawana (2nd, left) .
Twelve kitchen staff members together with the kitchen manager, Mr Owen October, attended the session. Ms Mendy Tyhawana confirmed that the reason why she went to Tapas & Oyster Restaurant for the second time, is due to new employees who were appointed after she conducted the first training session. “As environmental health practitioners, we need to make sure that all staff members employed at food premises are aware of the importance of good hygiene practices, as the health of customers is in the hands of those staff”, Ms Tyhawana emphasised. “Your job as food handlers is important – take pride in what you are doing,” she added.
The following topics were covered, namely: (1) What is food poisoning; (2) How does one get food poisoning; (3) Signs and symptoms of food poisoning and (4) how to prevent it by using five keys to safer food, which are:
1. Keep clean
2. Separate raw from cooked food
3. Cook thoroughly
4. Keep food at a safe temperature
5. Use safe water and raw material
Participants listened attentively to the five keys to safer food and the practical examples made by Ms Mendy Tyhawana.
After the closing of the session, Ms Tyhawana said that even though some of the staff were new, she was surprised to hear that all of them were familiar with the five keys to safer food. “This means that staff members who attended the previous session, remembered the content of the session and also transferred their knowledge to the new staff. This is also a confirmation that the efforts made by environmental health practitioners are not in vain,” Ms Tyhawana highlighted.
More sessions will be conducted by the Eden District Municipality throughout the rest of the year to ensure the health and safety of residents in the Eden district.
Waste Management in South Africa is a very complex matter, and if not addressed correctly, it will have a negative impact on all members of the community. For this reason, Eden District Municipality views Waste Management as crucially important, and is one of the leaders in the Western Cape with regards to the application of scientific, yet practical approaches in respect of Waste Management.
Some of the challenges in the Eden District include:
1. A growing population and economy, which means increased volumes of waste generated.
2. Increased complexity of waste streams, which directly affects the complexity of its management, which happens when hazardous waste is mixed with general waste.
3. A historical backlog of waste removal services in especially informal areas.
4. Limited understanding of the main waste flows and the national waste balance, due to the lack of data.
5. The absence of recycling infrastructure in certain towns which will enable separation of waste at the source.
6. Growing pressure on outdated Waste Management infrastructure, with declining levels of capital investment and maintenance in this sector.
7. Cost of Waste Management is not fully appreciated by consumers and industry and waste disposal is prevented over other options.
8. Few waste treatment options are available and are thus more expensive than landfill costs.
9. Eden District Municipality is therefore committed to achieve the goals as set out in the National Waste Management Strategy.
These goals are:
1. Promotion of waste minimisation, re-use, recycling and recovery of waste.
2. Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of waste services by municipalities.
3. Grow the contribution of the waste sector to the green economy.
4. Ensure that people are aware of the impact of waste on their health and the environment.
5. Achieve integrated Waste Management planning.
6. Ensure sound budgeting for waste services.
7. Provide measures to remediate contaminated land.
8. Establish effective compliance with and the enforcement of the Waste Act.
To achieve these goals, Eden District Municipality is in constant contact with all role players regarding the private sector, Department of Environmental Affairs, as well other municipalities and provinces. With the new landfill site near PetroSA, that is foreseen to be taken into use in 2019, Eden District Municipality will ensure that all the above mentioned goals are met.
For more information on Waste Management, please visit our website at: https://goo.gl/a51Y4p
On 27 March 2018, Eden District Municipality (Eden DM) pledged its commitment to the environment when the Executive Mayor, Cllr Memory Booysen, signed the Durban Commitment, joining leading local governments from around the world as a partner in the global movement to protect biodiversity.
Cllr Memory Booysen busy signing the Durban Commitment.
The document was signed during a Political Leadership Wetlands Awareness Workshop, which was sponsored by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), as part of their Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) Wetlands South Africa project. The Durban Commitment is a non-binding commitment and model created by local governments, for local governments and the communities they serve, in order to protect and enhance biodiversity at the local level. The workshop was attended by officials and political leaders from the district and focused on raising awareness on the value wetlands play in sustaining healthy communities and ecosystems.
Cllr Khayalethu Lose, Portfolio Chairperson of Community Services, officially opened and welcomed attendees; he acknowledged the sponsor ICLEI, and thanked them for enhancing awareness of wetlands and biodiversity. Ms Kate Snaddon of the Western Cape Wetlands Forum presented ‘what wetlands are and why they are valuable’.
During the training, it became known that Wetlands are able to purify water by filtering pollutants out of water systems. They are also essential in protecting communities from the impacts of natural disasters such as droughts, as they are in regulating flooding impacts by reducing water flow, acting as sponges that store water and release it slowly. The severity of the impact of droughts and floods are therefore greatly reduced through the natural functioning of wetlands.
Wetlands are considered to be high-value ‘ecological infrastructure’, in that they provide critical ecosystem services within the areas where they occur. Poorer communities are most vulnerable to the impacts of wetland degradation. Many of the plants growing within and around wetlands have natural medicinal properties. Local communities harvest these plants to maintain or improve their personal health. Local communities living within the Eden District commonly harvest reeds from wetlands to make baskets and furniture, grasses for thatching and Arum lilies to sell on the side of the road.
Back fltr: Mr Wouter Jacobs- Eden DM Disaster Management Coordinator, Mr Rian Basson – Disaster Management Intern Researcher, Ms Lee-Ann Joubert – Disaster Management Intern Researcher, Ms Nina Viljoen – Specialist: Environmental Management, Cllr Noluthando Mwati – Deputy Mayor: Oudtshoorn Municipality, Cllr A Dellemijn – Mossel Bay Portfolio Councillor, Mr Siphiwe Dladla – Manager: Office of the Executive Mayor and Mr D Kotze – Deputy Mayor: Mossel Bay Municipality. Front fltr: Ms Kirsty Robinson – ICLEI Representative, Ms Crystal Brown – Disaster Management Intern Researcher, Ms Gail Bekeer – Administrative Assistant: Disaster Management, Ms Tippie Bouer – Disaster Management Emergency Centre Supervisor, Cllr Memory Booysen – Eden DM Executive Mayor, Cllr Charlotte Clarke – Deputy Mayor: George Municipality, Cllr Khayalethu Lose – Eden DM Portfolio Chairperson: Community Services, Ms Kate Snaddon – Western Cape Wetlands Forum and Ms Machi Majoe – Representative of ICLEI.
In conclusion, the Executive Mayor of Eden DM, Cllr Memory Booysen, thanked the service providers for the insightful training session and said: “Today, I have developed a different view pertaining to wetlands as a whole. I will definitely be an influence to other people. This was indeed an ‘eye-opener’ – I chose to never attend these kind of engagements in the past, but as from today, I am a clever mayor who will look at you from a different perspective as protectors of the environment,” Mayor Booysen said.
By signing the Durban Commitment, the Eden District Municipality pledged its dedication to wetland protection within the Eden district, as well as its commitment towards the implementation of remedial action towards the recovery of degraded and damaged wetlands.
The Environmental Health Practitioners of Eden District Municipality are continuing preventative actions to prevent further outbreaks of Listeriosis, which comprise monitoring of retailers to ensure that no suspected products remain on shelves, ensuring safe disposal and incineration of recalled products, investigations and inspections at food premises to ensure hygienic conditions and practices at food premises and Listeriosis prevention education and awareness actions.
In addition to the Enterprise range, Tiger Brands has issued a precautionary recall of all Snax branded products.
As distribution partner, Clover will facilitate the customer and consumer recall process. On 19 March 2018, Clover issued the procedure to be followed in handling the Snax Product Recall, which will comprise two components – the first being the trade recall/withdrawal and the second being the consumer/shopper return component.
With regards to the shopper/consumer returns, the shopper will bring the product back to the store for a full refund, irrespective of till slip being available or not. Clover will be responsible for the collection and uplift of all products affected by the recall – this includes both customer and consumer returns. Clover will be responsible to safely remove products from stores and will also manage the safe destruction of recalled products at a registered incinerator.
