Roadtown, Tortola - Residents of the Territory can expect to learn more about safer environmental health practices as the Environmental Health Division (EHD) embarks on a formal strategic education and outreach program.
Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Carnel Smith stated that the EHD has significantly transformed its operating system and the public needs to be aware of the new standards that will be promoted and enforced by the division.
“The EHD is no longer operating on a program system, but rather a district system where each Environmental Health Officer is assigned to a district and would be responsible for conducting inspections and programs within their assigned zone,” said Mr. Smith. He added that if a red flag is raised in a particular zone, Environmental Health Officers would collaborate with fellow EHD personnel, and other government agencies to resolve the problems identified.
The proposed education plan includes regular district town hall meetings to discuss environmental health-related concerns with residents, news releases, community bulletins, as well as television and radio programs to keep residents updated on developments within the division.
Environmental health is the practice of ensuring that proper work and home environments are maintained in healthy conditions in order to protect the health and well-being of the population. This is achieved through the careful monitoring of food safety standards, atmospheric and drinking water quality, waste water disposal, as well as vector control.
The Environmental Health Division is the government agency under the portfolio of the Ministry of Health and Social Development responsible for the management of vector control programs as well as monitoring food safety, water quality, institutional hygiene and port health. The office is located on the 3rd Floor of the Old Administration Building on Main Street.
British Virgin Islands News