Food
Control Unit
Food
hygiene and food safety which encompass the entire chain of events from
production of food, its processing, distribution, transportation, storage,
processing, preparation, marketing to the actual sale, display and
consumption by the population is the responsibility of the Food Control
Unit. The protection of the consumers against the unsafe or fraudulent
food is the primary objective of this unit.
The
main activities of this unit include:
-
Inspection
of all food premises and food manufactured and exposed for sale for
human consumption.
-
Collection
of food samples for microbiological and chemical analysis.
-
Investigation
of complaints and food borne diseases outbreaks.
-
Education
of consumers, food handlers on food safety issues.
Public
Health Engineering Unit
This
unit is involved with the quality and safety aspects of water supply from
the planning stages, development, storage, treatment and distribution ;
waste disposal, animal keeping and management, and environmental pollution
so as to assure a healthy and safe environment.
The
main objective of this unit is to prevent and reduce the transmission of
water- borne and excreta related diseases through the modification and
control of the environment and to mitigate the effect of hazardous
substances on the environment and public health.
The
main activities of the unit include:
-
Identification
and inspection of sources of contamination and pollution of water
supplies and initiate control measures.
-
Monitoring
the quality of raw and treated water supplies, swimming pool water in
hotels and public establishments.
-
Inspection
and assessment of refuse collection and disposal methods and initiate
recommendations.
-
Design
waste water system and their final disposal.
Vector
Control Unit
Surveillance
and control of insect and other pests of medical importance is the main
concern of this unit
The
unit’s main objective is to reduce the density of vectors of public
health importance with a view to decrease the incidence of vector borne
diseases.
The
main activities of the unit include:
-
Carrying
out surveys to determine densities of species such as mosquitoes and
rodents and their localities.
-
Treatment
(insecticiding and rodenticiding ) of infested areas for the control
of specific vectors.
-
Education
of the population on various methods of environmental control and
source reduction.
-
Carrying
out study on vector development , reproduction and the effectiveness
of chemical control used.
Port
and Airport Health Unit
This
unit is concerned with the prevention of
the introduction of new insect, pest and disease vectors and other
infectious diseases in the country. It ensures that the provisions made
under the Seychelles Quarantine Act and the International Health
regulations are strictly adhered to.
The
main activities of this unit include
-
Inspection
of all ships and aircrafts coming from foreign ports and airports to
ensure that no insect or animal vectors of disease enter the country.
-
Ensuring
that all crew and passengers coming from all infected areas are in
valid possession of valid certificates of yellow fever and cholera.
-
Inspection
and survey of vector breeding grounds and vectors control and
elimination from within a perimeter of 500 meters around the port and
airport.
Environmental
Health Impact Assessment Unit
The
EHIA unit is responsible for assessing the environmental health impacts of
new developments and its resulting effects on Public Health. Its main
objective is to mitigate adverse effects of development on environment and
public health.
The
main activities of this unit include :
-
The
processing of planning and building applications prior to being
considered by the planning authority.
-
Visits
to all day care centers to ensure they are being operated in hygienic
conditions.
-
Inspections
of building sites, foreign workers housing accommodations to ensure
conformity with laws and regulations.
District
Environmental Health Officers
District
EHO’s are based in all the health districts of the country. They perform
a wide range of preventive health duties and are there to ensure a high
level of hygiene and environmental sanitation in their respective areas.
The
main activities carried out include:
-
Carry
out housing sanitation visits to the various households and health
educate people at the household level.
-
Inspect
all public buildings and institutions.
-
Inspect
food premises and food items to ensure fitness for sale to the
population.
-
Inspect
farms to ensure good sanitation.
-
Investigate
all health complaints lodged by members of the public.
|
