Municipal Health

Food safety is one of the nine Key Performance Areas (KPAs) of Municipal Health and Environmental Services, which forms part of the Directorate Community Services at Eden District Municipality (Eden DM). Food safety includes the monitoring of food premises and safe handling of food at formal and informal food premises. Education on hygiene awareness is also done by Environmental Health Practitioners to the public.

Food safety training was recently presented to food handlers of formal and informal food premises in Oudtshoorn.

Environmental Health Practitioners Mr Francois Koelman, Ms Elizna Barnard and Mr Pieter Crous of Oudtshoorn Municipal Health office presented the training.

The content of the training focused on the World Health Organisation’s Five keys for safer food, which include:

1. Keep clean

Wash your hands before handling food and often during food preparation;
Wash your hands after going to the toilet;
Wash and sanitise all surfaces and equipment used for food preparation;
Protect kitchen areas and food from insects, pests and other animals;

2. Separate raw and cook foods

Separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from other foods;
Use separate equipment and utensils such as knives and cutting boards for handling of raw foods;
Store food in containers to avoid contact between raw and prepared foods;

3. Cook thoroughly

Cook food thoroughly, especially meat, poultry, eggs and seafood
Bring foods like soups and stews to boiling to ensure that they have reached 70 ͦ. For meat and poultry, make sure that juices are clear, not pink. Ideally, use a thermometer.
Reheat cooked food thoroughly.

4. Keep food at safe temperatures

Do not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Refrigerate promptly all cooked and perishable food (preferably below 5ºC).
Keep cooked food piping hot (more than 60ºC) prior to serving.
Do not store food too long even in the refrigerator.
Do not thaw frozen food at room temperature.

5. Use safe water and raw materials

Use safe water or treat it to make it safe
Select fresh and wholesome foods
Choose foods processed for safety, such as pasteurized milk
Wash fruits and vegetables, especially if eaten raw
Do not use food beyond its expiry date

Participants now have a greater understanding about the importance of their roles and responsibilities in when handling food. A Certificate of Attendance was issued to those who received training and informal food traders also received incentives, which included cooler boxes and aprons.

The WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) Project in Schools is a programme which is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to improve water, sanitation and hygiene conditions at schools. The school manager, educators of PJ Badenhorst Primary School in Dysselsdorp and the Eden District Municipality (Eden DM) Municipal Health Section based in Oudtshoorn, collaborated to establish a WASH committee. The committee strives to ensure that sustainable good health prevails among educators and learners and that the school environment is kept clean and healthy. The committee is supported by the school governing body. Involvement of educators, learners, parents, communities and government institutions is important in WASH projects.

The Manager of the Eden DM Municipal Health Services: Klein Karoo, Mr Desmond Paulse, gave a presentation to the WASH committee on the important components of a Programme, which include:

• water facilities, water conservation and access to water;
• hygiene promotion;
• sanitation;
• control of communicable and vector-borne diseases;
• cleaning and waste disposal;
• food storage and preparation especially in case of school feeding schemes; and
• importance of hand washing.

Environmental Health Practitioners Francois Koelman and Willie Plaatjies did a presentation to food preparers of the school feeding scheme on food safety and safe storage of food. The Municipal Health Section of Eden DM will continue to support the school with WASH projects.

Diarrhea and worm infections, which are two of the main diseases that affect school aged children, can be drastically reduced through improved water, sanitation and hygiene practices. Children can carry infectious agents from childcare settings and schools into the home and vice versa, causing those in contact with them to get infected. WASH in schools focuses generally on the prevention of diseases that can be transmitted from person to person, and the program aims to ensure the following:

• learners that are healthier,
• learners that can positively influence hygiene practice in their homes, among family members and in the wider community;
• learners to observe, communicate, cooperate, listen and carry out decisions about hygienic conditions and practices for themselves; and
• change in current hygiene behavior and continue better hygiene practices in the future like correct hand washing with soap which is an important barrier to transmission of infections and has been cited as one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. Hand washing with soap can reduce the incidence of diarrhea from 48 to 42 percent. Improved sanitation behavior has also been associated with a reduction in gastro-intestinal illnesses.

Eden District Municipality’s women, on 18 August 2017, were treated to a day of motivational talks in commemoration of Women’s Day at the George Correctional Services recreational hall. Financial planning and donations were provided by Capitec; women’s health information was shared by Agness Maree from CANSA; dressing according to your body shape by Annalidda; and self-defense tips by Mr Malcolm Pojé. Ladies from Eden DM were dressed up to the theme “Sassy, Candy, Mismatch”, which represents a woman being bold, full of spirit and talkative, colourful, sweet and not one in the same.

Cllr Rosina Ruiters‚ Eden DM Executive Deputy Mayor delivered the keynote address and expressed her passion for progressive women and especially the contribution that women offer to their families and society in general. “I am here to honor the power and struggles of women who have broken all barriers and reached the pinnacle of success in every sphere of life,” she said. Cllr Ruiters also highlighted 09 August 1956, as one of the turn-around events in the struggle for freedom and women’s rights in South Africa. “It was on this day that more than 20 000 women of different races staged a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (commonly known as the pass laws) of 1950.”

“Women are like glue to their families, but still face abuse in today’s life; emotionally, physically and financially.”
“Women must speak out and put a stop to the abuse. Wathinta abafazi wathinta imbokodo ‘you strike a rock – you strike a woman’,” Cllr Ruiters concluded.

Malcolm Pojé, Communication Officer and Spokesperson of the Southern Cape, South African Police Service (SAPS), shared his admiration and respect for women. He then presented various self-defense skills, which proves to be effective when a person faces an attacker. He specifically pointed out how a woman should target specific areas of a man’s body to temporarily disable him, which would ensure her with adequate time to escape to a safe space.

Eden District Municipality, Portfolio Chairperson of Strategic Services, Cllr Erica Meyers, extended a word of appreciation to Eden DM women for their hard work and dedication. She also thanked, CAPITEC Bank, Malcom Pojé from SAPS, Annalida (fashion designer) and Ms Maree from CANSA for supporting and offering motivational talks to Eden DM women.
The décor was done by Margaret Powell and Marlene Nqumse, who had to make do with minimal funds – Eden DM would like to thank them for doing a sterling job!

The Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) of the Eden District Municipality devote themselves to undertake routine water sampling of areas, situated along the Eden district, as a crucial part of the Municipal Health Services’ key performance areas.

Regular sampling of the following sites, situated within the five coastal areas are procured routinely, as well as prior to and during the December holiday season:

Bitou   – 5 sample sites
Knysna  – 9 sample sites
George   – 4 sample sites
Mossel Bay  – 5 sample sites
Hessequa  – 4 sample sites

A total of 12 “Blue Flag” beaches have been identified and proclaimed within the entire District, emphasising the very important role this region represents as prominent holiday and tourist destination.

The purpose of sampling at these sites is to ensure that all recreational areas that are being utilised by local residents and visitors, are safe and pollutant-free.  The presence of pathogenic bacteria isolated in the water samples, is normally an indication of fecal pollution, which may originate from storm water run-off, pets and wildlife, as well as human sewerage.  If present in high concentrations in water and ingested while swimming or enter the skin via a cut or sore, it may cause ear and throat infections, as well as gastro -enteritis.

A collaborative approach regarding the management of all coastal water bodies (including rivers, estuaries, lagoons and the ocean) with all other stakeholders, e.g. the South African National Parks (SANParks) and Nature Conservation, will ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday for everyone.

After an incident that occurred in one of Plettenberg Bay’s childcare facilities, Eden District Municipality’s Environmental Practitioners on 28 October 2016, embarked on a programme to create awareness about a bacterial infection named Impetigo.

The programme was held at the Bongolethu Crèche in Kwanokuthula, Plettenberg Bay.  Mr Gawie Vos, Ms Zoleka Goniwe and Ms Nokuphiwa Mbali facilitated the session, which was attended by four teachers, 50 toddlers, as well the principal, Ms Beauty Mpondo.

1. What is Impetigo?

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin condition that is most common in children. It usually occurs on the face, neck and hands of young children and infants. Children who wear diapers also tend to get it around the diaper area. The disease occurs usually following another skin condition or an infection. Impetigo is caused by two bacteria – streptococcus pyogenes and staphylococcus aureus, which is highly contagious.

2. What are the symptoms?

Impetigo symptoms can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, particularly when they are present on the face. Though the symptoms vary slightly from type to type of Impetigo, they are similar and can include: red sores that pop easily and leave a yellow crust, fluid-filled blisters, itchy rash, skin lesions and swollen lymph nodes.

3. How to prevent Impetigo?

In order to prevent Impetigo one needs to maintain good hygiene. These methods include: washing hands regularly, bathing or showering regularly, cleaning and covering any injuries to the skin.

With the children who eagerly participated in the activities and attentively listened to the facilitators, the participation of the teachers and attendance of the school principal, the programme was described as being a great success.

In a quest to educate communities, especially children at pre-school level about the benefits of proper health and hygiene habits, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from Eden District Municipality’s (Eden DM) Municipal Health Section, regularly visits crèches in the district.

On 20 and 21 October 2016, EHPs from the Mossel Bay Office, together with the Portfolio Councillor of Community Services, Cllr Khayelethu Lose visited six (6) crèches in Kwanonqaba and Great Brak River. During these visits, four hundred and fifty (450) toddlers and thirty five (35) teachers were reached and trained regarding the importance of proper hand-wash methods.

Toddlers and teachers were also trained in methods to improve hygiene behaviour, as well as ways to prevent diarrhoeal, sanitation and water-related diseases. One of the key messages communicated, was that good handwashing habits are the first line of defence against the spread of many illnesses, like common colds, to more serious infections, such as diarrhea.

Hand-wash techniques were demonstrated and the importance of using soap, were emphasised. Incentives, which included soap dispensers, hand-wash soap and paper towels, were handed out. The project was a great success and feedback received from crèches, was very positive.

A dialogue between various Eden district stakeholders and a Chinese delegation, took place on 8 October 2016 at Oubaai and could lead to stronger trade relations as soon as China buys into what the Eden district has on offer. The Executive Mayor of Eden District Municipality (Eden DM), Councillor Memory Booysen, chaired the engagement and allowed a few local businesses from the agriculture, health and training sectors, to introduce their products and services to Dr Hongbin Cheng and his partners.

Dr Cheng is the Co-founder of New China Times Technology (NCTT), the Managing Director of Beijing Sinoera Technology (BST) and the General Manager in South Africa’s Taichi He. Dr Cheng’s close ties with the Chinese government is an advantage to trade and this will make links to China and South Africa easier. Dr Cheng proposed that a Communication Centre be built in South Africa, to enable efficient communication between the two countries. Communication centres have already been established in Korea, Thailand, Germany and soon in the Netherlands. It is envisaged that Dr Cheng will return next year (2017) with an extended delegation to continue discussions and to visit sites in the Eden district.

The George Executive Mayor, Cllr Melvin Naik welcomed the delegates and said the following: “We want to export, we want to import and we want to do business with other countries, but we have to put our money where our mouths are. I want you to engage with our people and when you come across local businesses that you can assist or help grow, please do so.”

Eden DM Executive Mayor agreed that there might be a level of difficulty when engaging with China via a national level and that engagements should be scaled down to a local level, especially between the more than 300 cities of China. “Those cities should talk to our cities,” and he boasted that “as you spend time with us you will find that this is a great region. We have highly educated people, we are politically stable, we have a good transport system – we are ready for business”.