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Municipal Health

28 July 2023 Media Release: Multi-stakeholder anti-litter clean-up campaign continues

Media Release: Multi-stakeholder anti-litter clean-up campaign continues

For Immediate Release
28 July 2023

Recently, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) kicked off its anti-litter campaign aimed at educating people about proper waste disposal techniques, using waste as a resource, and the pollution effects litter brings to the Garden Route District. Raising awareness at taxi ranks, schools, informal settlements, public facilities, malls, and shopping centres form part of the campaign.

On Tuesday 25 July 2023, the GRDM Waste Management Section conducted an awareness campaign at the Asla Clinic in Mossel Bay in collaboration with the Environmental Officers of Mossel Bay Municipality’s Pollution and Waste Management section.

Community members were educated about the severe negative consequences of illegal dumping on both the environment and human health. Topics covered included the disposal of hazardous materials, garbage and pollutants in unauthorised locations as well as the effects of contaminated soils and water sources on animal and human life. There was a lot of interaction during the session, and community members received stickers with contact information for reporting illegal dumping.

On Thursday 27 July 2023, the GRDM Waste Management Section hosted a workshop with twenty-four (24) waste pickers (Expanded Public Works Program Workers and offenders from Community Correction) to educate them on the different waste streams that can be recycled.  During the training, pickers were taught that waste could be a resource for someone else as well as a treasure.  It was also clarified that every citizen has the right to live in a clean, healthy, and safe environment. The fact that it is a human right, but also a responsibility, was emphasized.

Stakeholders in the workshop included Mossel Bay Municipality, Henque Waste, and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) – Local Government Support.  Similar workshops continue to be rolled out in other towns of the Garden Route district.

The following pictures were taken during the two awareness sessions hosted by the GRDM Waste Management Section the past week.

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Featured Image Caption: The workshop was attended by waste pickers from Mossel Bay

Previous articles relating to this:

25 July 2023 Media Release: Oudtshoorn Local Municipality progress in clean-up, recycling initiatives by Garden Route District Municipality and Community involvement

18 July 2023 Media Release: Garden Route DM Municipal Health Services achieve a stellar 96.7% Compliance Rate

Garden Route DM Municipal Health Services achieve a stellar 96.7% Compliance Rate

For Immediate release
18 July 2023

The Western Cape Provincial Department of Health and Wellness conducted an audit of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Health Services in February 2023. It was recently made public that the GRDM achieved a 96.7% compliance rate.

The following municipal health-related KPIs and administration processes were audited: Client rights, operational management, facility and infrastructure, leadership and corporate governance, operational – vector control, environment pollution control, waste management, water quality monitoring, law enforcement, health surveillance of premises, etc.

The primary aims of Municipal Health Services are to promote health and to ensure a healthy environment for the community.

According to the Audit report summary, non-compliance was observed only in two areas: human resources and vector control. With a compliance rate of 96.7%, it is evident that the Community Services Department of GRDM are making substantial progress towards the goals outlined in the GRDM Integrated Development Plan (popularly known as an IDP), indicating a positive direction.

Feature image: An image depicting some of the functions of Municipal Health at the Garden Route District Municipality

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING

Die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Departement van Gesondheid en Welstand het in Februarie 2023 ‘n oudit van die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit (GRDM) Gesondheidsdienste uitgevoer. Dit is onlangs bekend gemaak dat die GRDM ‘n 96,7% voldoeningskoers behaal het.

Volgens die ouditverslagopsomming is twee areas wat ge-oudit is wat opgeskerp moet word: menslike hulpbronne en vektorbeheer. Met ‘n voldoeningskoers van 96.7%, is dit duidelik dat die Gemeenskapsdienstedepartement van GRDM aansienlike vordering maak in die rigting van die doelwitte soos uiteengesit in die GRDM Geïntegreerde Ontwikkelingsplan (algemeen bekend as ‘n GOP), wat ‘n positiewe rigting aandui.

ENDS

 

11 July 2023 Media Release: Paperless Inspections by Environmental Health Practitioners continue to reduce GRDM’s carbon footprint

Media Release: Paperless Inspections by Environmental Health Practitioners continue to reduce GRDM’s carbon footprint

For Immediate Release
11 July 2023

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) continues to reduce its carbon footprint. Developed in 2012, an innovative mobile app for Municipal Health Practitioners, combines traditional paper prints, personal computers, laptops, and cameras into one efficient device, revolutionising the way inspections are conducted.

With approximately 8,000 inspections carried out annually, including 6,000 food and water samples, the introduction of the paperless inspection yielded significant time-saving for 32 EHPS of GRDM. Time saved has resulted in a 25% reduction in their workload, equivalent to having an additional eight (8) EHPs.

The app’s effectiveness is also measured by its positive environmental impact. By eliminating the need for thousands of prints, GRDM has taken a significant step towards reducing paper waste. The production of paper involves the consumption of millions of trees, chemicals, and water, with much of it ending up in landfills as it remains largely unrecycled. The Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industry is responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. Embracing a digital approach to inspections significantly mitigates these environmental hazards.

Screengrabs of the municipal app used by Environmental Health Practitioners

In line with its commitment to environmental stewardship, GRDM has also transitioned to electronic communication wherever possible. Feedback to clients is predominantly conducted via email, further reducing the reliance on paper. For clients without access to email services, a short SMS is sent to inform them about inspections conducted and the results thereof.

Environmental Health practitioners using their app to perform daily inspections.

Previously, EHPs conducted a certain number of education sessions annually. However, over the past decade, EHPS have significantly increased their public educational sessions to approximately 500. These informative sessions cover a range of topics, including food safety, chemical safety, handwashing at schools and crèches, as well as door-to-door campaigns aimed at combating illegal dumping in the Garden Route communities.

The development team improves and updates the app frequently, ensuring it stays aligned with 21st-century advancements. The Municipal Health Dashboard, serving as a support system, provides visuals of the region to highlight evolving trends at the grassroots level.

GRDM prides itself on being a frontrunner in technological advances, in particular within municipal health services.

Feature image: An Environmental Health Practitioner using the GRDM Municipal Health App – saving thousands of Rands annually.

ENDS

15 June 2023 Media Release: First-of-its-kind Municipal Health Dashboard created by Garden Route DM

Media Release: First-of-its-kind Municipal Health Dashboard created by Garden Route DM

For Immediate Release
15 June 2023

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has launched a first-of-its-kind Municipal Health dashboard this year to provide easy access to data that Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) gather and analyse on a daily basis. “This innovative tool utilises maps to present a heatmap of areas where persistent health issues, amongst others, are flagged, enabling GRDM to identify areas requiring additional interventions to meet health standards,” said Jessica Erasmus, a GRDM Environmental Health Practitioner.  Erasmus was involved in the business analysis and communication side of the system development to help the system builders bridge the gap between municipal health function and technology.

According to Clive Africa, GRDM Executive Manager for Community Services, “the dashboard aligns with Section 1 of the National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of 2003), which mandates Municipal Health Services to monitor various aspects such as water quality and safety, food control, waste management, premises health surveillance, disease prevention (excluding immunisations), vector control, pollution control, disposal of the dead, and chemical safety”.

“To monitor these focus areas, daily inspections are conducted and linked to the system, capturing details of businesses, owners, addresses, and GPS coordinates, to name a few,” said Jessica.

“The data from these inspections are then repurposed for monthly monitoring reports, providing the number of inspections per EHP, per region, and per premises.”

GRDM has leveraged its existing Geospatial Information System (GIS) Unit and an external GIS company, to help build a system that maps data and provides real-time satellite views.

“Integrating addresses of premises and GPS coordinates into the system allows GRDM to plot business and premises locations, sampling points, illegal dump sites, and communicable disease trend data,” said Africa.

“This integration also enables GRDM to access historical data on businesses, including compliance and non-compliance issues, with a single click, facilitating a better understanding of the municipality’s data.”

Benefits of the Municipal Health Dashboard:

  • Real-time data access allows GRDM to gain in-depth insights into the causes of specific communicable disease outbreaks in certain areas.
  • It enables GRDM to investigate whether shared water sources or common shopping areas contribute to disease outbreaks, which helps in community education and prevention efforts.
  • The dashboard information facilitates collaboration with relevant authorities responsible for addressing water source issues or other underlying problems, thereby assisting in resolving health-related concerns.
  • Overall, the dashboard offers a holistic and real-time view of GRDM’s daily activities, serving as an early warning system to prevent environmental health-related disasters.
  • The dashboard allows for the management of municipal health services. This is done by looking at the birds’ eye view of the whole district to make important managerial decisions and to enhance the functioning of the Environmental Health Practitioners.

EHP Francois Koelman, recognised as one of the best EHPs in South Africa in 2018, also played a similar role as Erasmus when he worked closely with Business Engineering in 2016/17 to develop a municipal app for EHPs – another first-of-its-kind app for municipalities. The app is also used today to link information to the Municipal Dashboard.

Feature image: Green is compliant and red is non-compliant/or requires intervention (illegal dumping) and indicates the status of the region.

ENDS

08 June 2023 Media Release: Do you have a Municipal Health related complaint and would like to report it?

Media Release: Do you have a Municipal Health related complaint and would like to report it?

For immediate release
08 June 2023

Municipal Health covers aspects of human health, including the quality of life, determined by physical, chemical, biological, social and psychosocial factors in the environment. It also refers to the identification, evaluation, control, correction and prevention of the environmental factors that can potentially adversely affect the health of present and the future generations.

Environmental Health Practitioners, who form part of Municipal Health, are responsible for ensuring the following key focus areas are looked after:

  • Water Quality Monitoring
  • Food Control
  • Solid Waste Management
  • Health Surveillance of Premises
  • Supervision and Prevention of Contagious Diseases (excluding Immunization)
  • Vector Control
  • Environmental Pollution Control
  • Disposal of Human Remains
  • Safe handling of Chemical Substances

This excludes port health, malaria control and control of hazardous substances. The above-mentioned aspects are mentioned in the Scope of Environmental Health Practitioners. Environmental Health Practitioners have a statutory obligation to protect the health of the present and the future generations as enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

Contact the following Garden Route District Municipal Health Offices to lodge your complaint:

Garden Route regions:

1.

Emmy Douglas
Chief: Municipal Health (Outeniqua – George)
Address: Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530
Tel: +27(0)44 803 1501 / Cell: +27(0)78 457 2824

2.

Chief: Municipal Health (Wilderness – George)
Address: Mission Street, Industrial Area, George
Tel: +27(0)44 803 1501

3.

Desmond Paulse
Manager: Municipal Health (Oudtshoorn & Kannaland)
Address: 94 St John Street, Oudtshoorn
Tel: +27(0)44 272 2241 / Cell: +27(0)83 678 6530

4.

Chief: Municipal Health (Mossel Bay)
Address: C/O Sampson & Marling Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay
Tel:  +27(0)44 693 0006

5.

Gawie Vos
Chief: Municipal Health (Lakes – Bitou)
Address: 7 Gibb Street, Plettenberg Bay
Tel: +27(0)44 501 1600 / Cell: +27(0)83 557 1522

6.

Chief: Municipal Health (Knysna)
Address: 26A Queen Street, Knysna
Tel: +27(0)44 382 7214

7.

Haemish Herwels
Chief: Municipal Health (Hessequa)
Address: 23 Michell Street, Riversdale, 6670
Tel: +27(0)28 713 2438 / Cell: +27(0)83 678 6545

ENDS

21 April 2023 Media Release: 125 Homeless people attend health education session at George Night Shelter

Media Release: 125 Homeless people attend health education session at George Night Shelter

For Immediate Release
21 April 2023

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is dedicated to improving, amongst others, the health and well-being of marginalized members of the Garden Route. On 19 April, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) held an education session with homeless community members. EHPs Sive Mkuta and Lusizo Kwetshube who drove the initiative educated the attendees about communicable diseases, personal hygiene, and environmental hygiene.

The session took place at George night shelter where 125 homeless people gathered. EHPs also distributed pamphlets and disinfectants.

These types of health education sessions are of critical importance as marginalized communities often do not have adequate access to healthcare resources. This is why empowering the homeless serves as a preventative measure for them to adopt best practices linked to hygiene practices. It empowers them to take control of their health and reduce their risk of contracting illnesses.

Die Tuinroete Distriksmunisipaliteit se Omgewingsgesondheidspraktisyns (OGP) Sive Mkuta en Lusizo Kwetshube, het gister ‘n inligtingsessie met 125 hawelose persone by die George-nagskuiling gehou. Die doel van die sessie was om wenke met die groep te deel oor die verbetering van algehele gesondheid en welstand. Die praatjie het hoofsaaklik gefokus op onderwerpe soos oordraagbare siektes, persoonlike higiëne en omgewingshigiëne. Dis geen geheim dat hawelose persone beperkte toegang tot gesondheidshulpbronne het wat die impak van siektes kan verminder.

UMasipala weSithili saseGarden Route (i-GRDM) uthathe amanyathelo okuphucula impilo kunye nentlalontle yoluntu eGarden Route, ngokubamba i-yokufundisa ngezempilo kuluntu olungenamakhaya. Abasebenzi beMpilo yokuSingqongileyo uSive Mkuta noLusizo Kwetshube bafundise abo bebezimase lendibano ngezifo ezosulelayo, ucoceko lomntu, kunye nococeko lokusingqongileyo, kwaye basasaza amaphecana kunye nezibulali ntsholongwane kubantu abayi-125 abebezimase kwindawo yokhuseleko yaseGeorge ebusuku. I-mfundiso eziloluhlobo zibalulekile kuluntu njengoko zibaxhobisa ngobalulekiyo ngococeko kunye nokunciphisa umngcipheko wokugula.

Lusizo Kwetshube also shared health education with approximately 125 homeless people about.

ENDS

Feature image caption: Sive Mkuta educates homeless people from George about communicable diseases, personal hygiene, and environmental hygiene.

16 March 2023 Media Release: GRDM donates mattresses to Early Childhood Development facilities in Hessequa

Media Release: GRDM donates mattresses to Early Childhood Development facilities in Hessequa

For immediate release
16 March 2023

During the Mattresses Handover campaign on 02 March 2023 Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Municipal Health officials responsible for the Hessequa area, assisted the GRDM Portfolio Chairperson for Property Management and Development, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, to distribute and donate mattresses to three crèches in the Hessequa region – Kleine Diamandjies, Neskuikentjie in Heidelberg and Groenie die Drakie crèche in Slangrivier.

Excited toddlers and principal of the Neskuikentjie Daycare, Claudette Slawers (middle), during the handover of mattresses to the facility by the GRDM Portfolio Chairperson for Property Management and Development, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard (right), and GRDM Environmental Health Practitioner, Marchelles Hurling (left).

Cllr Hoogbaard, during the handover ceremony, explained the importance of the overall wellbeing of children. He said: “It is hoped that this donation will further promote the development of the future leaders of our communities”. In addition, Cllr Hoogbaard stressed that “donating these mattresses will create a safe sleep environment because they are waterproof and easy to clean/disinfect”.  He also highlighted that “we, the Garden Route District Municipality, further hope that mattresses can be donated to all the early childhood facilities across the Hessequa region”.

Sleep is a critical part of a healthy childhood and while children are at a crèche, they need a comfortable and safe sleeping surface, especially during naptime.

In closing Cllr Hoogbaard handed over the mattresses to the creche principals and educators. These educators in turn extended their appreciation to Garden Route District Municipality for their generous act towards Early Childhood Development facilities, especially the children, in the area.

Feature Image: GRDM Portfolio Chairperson for Property Management and Development, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard (right) and Chief: Municipal Health for the Hessequa Region, Heamish Herwels, hand over the mattresses to the principal of the Kleine Diamantjies Creche, Petro Josephs (middle).

ENDS

03 March 2023 Media Release: The effect of loadshedding on Water Quality

Media Release:  The effects of load shedding on water quality

For immediate release
03 March 2023

Loadshedding was introduced to South Africa in 2007, the country’s communities and various sectors have had to adjust to its inconvenient nature and effects.

The impact of loadshedding can be seen daily. Loadshedding also has an impact that we cannot see.  It has a direct impact on Municipal Services, specifically water and sanitation.  Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Municipal Health Services is responsible to monitor the water quality in terms of one of their Key Performance areas within their Scope of Practise.

GRDM Municipal Health Services monitor water bodies and water sources on a routine basis to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation.

The impact of load shedding on water quality and associated risk to human health

Pumping water, treating water, and distributing drinkable water all require electricity.  It is also used for the collection and treatment of wastewater.  Authorities may have backup systems that can help with the aforementioned during load shedding periods; however, these systems may break down for extended periods. With load shedding the procedures, become more labor intensified with associated risks.

Water purification systems

In the case where no sufficient amount of water is treated, water might not be available for drinking and hygienic purposes.

 This includes:

Cleaning households or very importantly food premises.  The communities will be reminded to the term “water is life”,  if taps run dry due to load shedding and not being able to drink treated water, or  even not being able to flush your toilet.  Untreated water can expose communities to various infectious bacteria that could be harmful to your health.  The most known bacteria is Escherichia coli.

  1. Coli can cause diseases like gastroenteritis, as well as ear – , nose and throat infections.

Agricultural sector

Water quality is of crucial importance for this sector in our communities.  Premises like abattoirs and dairy farms depend on hygiene during all the related processes and the availability of potable water plays an important part during all these processes.  Pollution can occur in rivers used for agricultural purposes. This can lead to accumulation of microbiological and chemical pollutants in crops and vegetation destined for the consumer.

Sanitation

Electricity is used in all the processes of sanitation from pump station until the final process of disinfection of sewerage.  Pump stations pump sewerage to the wastewater treatment plant. High-risk areas and priority areas might have backup system to ensure that the pump station does not overflow.

The overflowing of pump stations can have a detrimental effect on the environment and cause severe environmental health nuisances. Pump stations near recreational areas or rivers can pollute the nearby water source that is utilised by the communities.  Communities using these recreational areas could be exposed to skin conditions, gastroenteritis or even cholera.

The possibility of untreated sewage entering our water bodies is much higher during load shedding, especially with the increase of the load shedding stages.

Please report all overflowing manholes to your local municipality.

Report all vandalism of infrastructure during loadshedding – compromised infrastructure leads to compromised water quality.

Herewith the details for each regional office within the Garden Route District:

Klein Karoo & Kannaland
Desmond Paulse
Chief: Municipal Health (Klein Karoo)
Tel: 044 272 2241 / 083 678 6530
Address: 94 St John Street, Oudtshoorn

Mossel Bay
Monique Anthony
Acting Chief: Municipal Health (Mossel Bay)
Tel:  044 693 0006
Address C/O Sampson & Marlin Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay.

George Outeniqua
Emmy Douglas
Chief: Municipal Health (Outeniqua)
Tel: 044 803 1501 / Fax: 044 803 1566
Address: Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530

Knysna Region
James McCarthy
Municipal Health Chief: Knysna
Tel: 044 382 7214 / 082 805 9417
Address: 26A Queen Street, Knysna

Bitou Region
Gawie Vos
Municipal Health Chief: Lakes (Bitou)
Tel: 044 501 1600 / 083 557 1522
Address: 7 Gibb Street, Plettenberg Bay

Hessequa Region
Haemish Herwels
Municipal Health Chief: Hessequa
Tel: 028 713 2438 / 083 678 6545
Address: 23 Michell Street, Riversdale, 6670

Johan Compion
Manager: Municipal Health & Environmental Services
E-mail: info@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel: 044 803 1300

ENDS

18 February 2023 Media Release: Measles Awareness Session Held at Rosemore Crèche in George to Promote Prevention Measures

Measles Awareness Session Held at Rosemore Crèche in George to Promote Prevention Measures

18 February 2023

A measles awareness session was held recently at Rosemore Crèche in George, where Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from the Garden Route District Municipality’s Community Services Department educated approximately 50 children and staff members on the importance of preventing the spread of this highly contagious viral infection.

Measles, which can have serious consequences for young children, typically exhibit symptoms 10 to 14 days after exposure. Those infected by it usually has a cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever, and a red, blotchy skin rash. The session covered the transmission of measles, prevention measures, and the significance of consistent handwashing.

Measles spreads easily through the air via respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, as well as through saliva, skin-to-skin contact, touching contaminated surfaces, and from mother to baby during pregnancy, labour, or nursing.

Education was led by Ivy Mamegwa, an EHP from the Wilderness region, one of the eight areas served by the GRDM. The goal of the session was to increase community awareness of measles and to promote personal hygiene practices to prevent its spread.

To prevent the spread of measles, it’s important to ensure proper ventilation and practice proper handwashing. The best defence, however, is to get vaccinated. Pamphlets were provided to the children and staff members to take home and share with others, including their parents, to further increase awareness and promote prevention measures.

Advice from EHP is to practice good hand hygiene. It continues to be one of the main strategies for stopping the transmission of pathogens.

ENDS

10 February 2023 Save the Date: Garden Route District Municipality to embark on an Illegal Dumping Campaign

Save the Date: Garden Route District Municipality to embark on an Illegal Dumping Campaign

Illegal dumping is a serious environmental and public health concern. This habit leads to pollution of air, water and soil, and can also attract pests and create unsanitary conditions. In addition, it can also decrease property values and negatively impact the overall aesthetic of an area. Raising awareness about the negative impacts of illegal dumping can help to reduce the incidence of this behaviour and promote more responsible disposal of waste.

Environmental Health Practitioners from Garden Route municipalities together with stakeholders will this week embark on a campaign to educate communities on the health effects of illegal dumping.

Members of the public are invited to follow us on social media from Monday, 13 February 2023 or tune into Eden FM (Monday, 13 February 2023 from 7:40) to learn more about the negative impact of illegal dumping on the environment. Various slots will also be used by local municipalities throughout the week to speak about illegal dumping.

“Let’s be the change within our communities and let’s curb illegal dumping together”.