UTILIZE STRATEGIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN PROMOTING SANITATION, SAFE WATER SUPPLY, HOUSING AND GENERAL HYGIENE.

By the end of this session students are expected to be able to

Describe environmental sanitation

Describe water safety

Describe housing and general hygiene

Promote safe water, good housing and sanitation

Prepare plan for environmental sanitation of the health facility

Environment; means all the external factors living and non- living, material and non material which surround man.

Sanitation; a way of life. Its quality of living that is expressed in the clean home, clean farm, the clean business and clean community.

Environmental sanitation; Means the control of environmental factors that form links in disease transmission. It includes solid waste management, water and waste water treatment, industrial waste treatment and noise and pollution control.

Clean and safe water supply

Clean and safe ambient air

Efficient and safe animal, human and industrial waste disposal

Protection of food from biological and chemical contaminants

Adequate housing in clean and safe surrounding

Promotes health

Prevents disease transmission

Eliminates breeding places of insect

Improve quality of life

Economic benefits

Water is essential for the basic survival of living organisms, including human beings

The metabolism of living organisms depends on water

Drinking

Bathing

Crop production

Generation of hydroelectric and thermoelectric power

Industry for cooling process, waste cleaning, and production of materials and goods

Transportation of people and goods

Means of recreation through swimming and boating

Natural habitats for many forms of fish and wildlife

Production of salt, especially from sea water

Domestic purposes

Clean

Colourless

Odourless

Tasteless

Free of pathogenic and toxic chemicals

Surface water

Ground water

Diseases Associated with Water

Most diseases associated with contaminated water are caused by pathogens

These diseases are classified according to the various aspects of the environment that human intervention can alter, including:

Waterborne diseases: Diseases which arise from the contamination of water by human or animal faeces or urine infected by pathogenic viruses or bacteria, which are directly transmitted when the water is drunk or used in the preparation of food ƒ Examples include: cholera, typhoid and cryptosporidiosis, amoebiasis, shigellosis diarrhoea, poliomyelitis and hepatitis A

Water related diseases: Diseases in which water provides a habitat for insect vectors of water related diseases. ƒ For example, mosquitoes breed in water and the adult mosquitoes may transmit parasitic diseases, such as malaria, and virus infections, such as dengue, yellow fever, schistosomiasis (bilharzias), dracunculiasis (guinea worm), and trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)

Water washed diseases: Diseases which occur due to an inadequate water supply in the community ƒ Examples include: skin diseases (scabies), eye diseases (trachoma), eczemas, contact dermatitis and skin fungal infections

Protection of water means keeping germs and chemicals out of the source

There is a need to make sure that human, animal and chemical contaminants do not come in contact with the ground above the supply or within the supply itself

It is easier to prevent water from getting dirty than it is to clean it

Proper selection and protection of water sources is critical for the provision of safe water

Fencing around the water sources may be required

The collection and protection of rain water by the use of gutters, pipes and tanks is essential

Avoid contamination from paint on the roof or in the storage tank when collecting rain water

Water falling on hills can be protected by keeping people and animals away from catchments area

When a well is deep enough, the sides should be built up with stones, cement, or cement rings (large culvert pipes) if available

Sides of the well should be built up above the level of the surrounding ground to prevent dirt from getting washed in

The area outside the well should be filled in to make a sloping apron

A waterproof (preferably cement) apron should be built around the top of the well so that spilled water cannot run back into the well

The lining of the well should be made waterproof (by cementing) to allow only water that has been filtered through the earth to get into the well at the bottom

If it is possible to obtain and maintain a pump, then a strong well cover should be made and fitted and the pump attached to it

Build a complete wall around the spring with an outlet pipe in it and a cover on the top

The pipe is convenient for filling drums and it eliminates contamination by dipping buckets into the spring

The protection of surface water is more problematic and difficult

Surface water such as streams, rivers and lakes are more vulnerable to pollution, both human and animal

The source should be isolated and bylaws should be put in place to control polluting activities such as dumping of hazardous wastes from mining and agricultural, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides

Recreational activities should be limited so that they are not likely to introduce contamination

Bacteriological analysis

Chemical analysis

Bacteriological Analysis

Water is collected in a sterile 500ml flask

Must be kept cold at a temperature of between 4° and 10° centigrade and analyzed within 30 hours

If a sample of water containing more than 10 coli per 100 ml is collected, the water is contaminated with excreta

This is a clear danger sign

This involves testing for a number of different substances such as ammonia, which are indicative of contamination with organic matter, often excreta

Other chemical tests can be performed for hardness or softness, and to detect other salts and/or minerals which may affect the taste of the water

Housing conditions play a crucial role in the control of many diseases, especially in the transmission of communicable diseases.

The home can both protect from disease and facilitate disease.

House: The usual dwelling place of the family.

Housing: The enclosed and adjoining open space and all structural components making up those spaces.

Domestic provisions such as water and sanitation, enclosed air, indoor lighting and indoor climate are also part of a dwelling unit.

Healthful housing: Housing which permits individuals of all ages to conduct usual household activities without putting excessive burden upon any organ of the body.

House space provision: The suitable separation of rooms, safe and sanitary means (space/ room) for the disposal of sewage, sufficient facilities (room/space) for washing and bathing, and appropriate facilities (space/room) for cooking, dining, and storage of food, household goods and personal belongings.

Adequately shelters people from heat, cold, damp, animals, insects and invaders

Able to be kept in good repair

Adequate elevation, ventilation and water supply

Adequate size and spacing for occupant(s)

Good drainage

Space for preparation, cooking and storage of food

Room for fuel storage

Adequate means to dispose of refuse and human waste

Proximity to roads, neighbours and other centres of population

Good natural and artificial lighting

A combination of dampness, lack of light, poor ventilation and overcrowding will contribute the spread of airborne droplet infection

A dirt floor and walls and unscreened windows permit the entry and breeding of flies, bedbugs and mosquitoes which contributes to the spread of vector-borne diseases

Cooking fires placed on the floor are hazardous to small children

A range of social problems may be associated with poor housing and living conditions including depression and alcohol abuse

Excessive noise and overcrowding has an influence on mental disorders

Crowded, cramped housing conditions facilitate the spread of airborne (communicable) infections such as measles and tuberculosis

The use of dirty household fuels for cooking and heating can cause respiratory problems

Dirty water and poor sanitation are associated with numerous illnesses

Avoid wild bush and thick forests

Vector insects living or breeding in natural forests or wild bush may either invade the house built near them, or simply bite and infect people who interact with their environment

Avoid sites adjacent to unmanaged surface water masses

Stagnant water is the most dangerous of all surface water masses as it not only is easily polluted, but is also provides a conducive breeding environment for mosquitoes, and harbours aquatic hosts such as snails

Avoid sources of air pollution

Building a house in a site free of, or well protected from, air pollution is an essential consideration for health in order to avoid airborne diseases

In principal. the housing settlement should be located on the windward side of the probable sources of air pollution, supplemented with a forest buffer zone

Avoid uncontrolled high density residential settlements

One obvious danger of crowded conditions is excreta contamination

Due to high densities, and therefore closer proximities between individuals who in addition share several common facilities, communicable diseases easily become epidemics and pandemics

There are many such infections preying on man, including airborne viral infections as well as water related and excreta related infections

Even the insect-borne diseases are believed to flourish more in uncontrolled high density areas

Located on porous soil, which provides good drainage

Located above high water level

Located in a clean environment away from refuse dumps

Located close to transport and community amenities

Located windward of swamps and offensive smells

Located off the main road and away from loud noise

Provide adequate ventilation, privacy and space

Located near a water supply

Ground Plan

The map of the proposed house

Should be approved by the local planning authority and include the following elements:

Direction of the house ƒ The long axis of the house should be positioned east to west and windows north to south so that the sun does not directly shine in and the rooms keep cool

Use of water proof material above and below ground level to keep the walls dry

Septic tanks (2.5 cubic feet per person) or latrines

Drains and sockaway pit

Foundation open (2.5 feet deep)

Separate rooms for sleeping, eating, cooking, washing and toilet ƒ The wash room and toilet should not be near the kitchen

Space around the house for a garden or farm

Specifications or provisions for functional spaces

Air ventilation

Indoor lighting

Non-poisonous building material

Desirable workmanship

Protection against insects and rodents

In crowded rooms infected members of a family might easily transmit communicable diseases, particularly airborne and droplet infections, to other family members

Healthy Air Ventilation

Provides air that is chemically pure and free from objectionable odours, air movement will assist in maintaining the desired air purity and thermal comfort and provide for the necessary air exchanges

Ventilation is essential to curb (control) airborne infection and for body cooling in hot humid areas, it reduces the occurrence of droplet infections and airborne infections

The main factors which determine structural aspects for health are the building materials used and workmanship

Materials like asbestos cause asbestosis, paints and vegetable fibres cause aeroallergen induced disease, vegetable material is prone to fire and termite attacks resulting in the collapse of the house

Thatch provides a perfect shelter and breeding place for vermin, rats, mice

For rural areas internal surface finishing is of significant importance, cracks and crevices in walls can provide shelter and breeding space for soft ticks

Prolonged exposure to uncomfortable conditions can produce adverse effects such as considerable loss of efficiency in work, coupled with physical strain

Excessively high air temperatures can be fatal

Provision for sufficient quantities of safe water

Efficient collection and safe disposal of garbage

Efficient household surface water drainage

Building Materials

Temporary building materials (e.g. grass)

Permanent building materials (e.g. cement block

This is essential for building healthy and sustainable communities.

Awareness campaigns; raise awareness about the importance of safe water, good housing and sanitation through education program and communities outreach.

Access to clean water; advocate for polices and investments that ensure universal access to safe drinking water. Also support development of infrastructure for water treatment and quality of water monitouring.

Improving housing standards; work towards improving housing standards to ensure that everyone has access to safe and adequate housing.

Sanitation infrastructure; advocates for this including toilets, sewage system,and waste management facilities.

Hygiene promotion; this include handwashing with soap, proper food handling, and safe disposal of waste. Conduct hygiene compaign in schools, health facilities and communities.

Community participation; involve community in decision making processes related to water, housing, and sanitation.

Policy advocacy; advocate for development and implementation of polices that prioritize safe water, good housing, and sanitation as fundamental human rights.

Assessment and analysis; conduct a throughout assessment of current environment sanitation conductions in target areas, including urban and rural areas, and identify areas of inadequate waste management, contaminated water sources and poor sanitation facilities. Then analyze data related to health outcomes, water quality and waste generation

Stakeholder engagement; identify and engage relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, community leaders, bussiness and residents.. Seek input from stakeholders to understand their perspectives, needs and priorities related to environmental sanitation.

Goal setting; establish clear and measurable goals for improving environmental sanitation. prioritize goals on urgency, feasibility and potential impact.

Strategic planning; put strategies and actions to archieve the established goals. Identify key areas of intervention such as water quality improvement, waste management and hygiene promotion.

Resource mobilization; determine the financial, human, and material resources required to implement the plan effectively.

Implementation; implement activities such as construction on sanitation facilities, installation of water treatment systems and hygiene promotion campaigns.

Capacity building and training; provide training and capacity-building opportunities for local authorities, community members, and sanitation workers to enhance for their knowledge and skills of environmental sanitation.

Monitoring and evaluation; establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact and outcomes of the environmental sanitation plan. collect data on key performance indicators such as increase sanitation coverage.

Sustainable and continuity; integrate environmental sanitation consideration plans and policies to mainstream sustainability principles.

Community and advocacy; communities progress, achievements, and challenges to stakeholders and the wider community through regular updates, reports, and outreach activities.

Any qns???????????