Health and Sanitation

Overview

Environmental Sanitation is still a health problem in the country.

Diarrheal diseases ranked second in the leading causes of morbidity among the general
population.

Other sanitation related diseases : tuberculosis, intestinal parasitism, schistossomiasis,

malaria, infectious hepatitis, filariasis and dengue hemorrhagic fever

DOH thru Environmental Health Services (EHS) unit is authorized to act on all issues
and concerns in environment and health including the very comprehensive Sanitation
Code of the Philippines (PD 856, 1978).

Water Supply Sanitation Program

EHS sets policies on:

Approved types of water facilities

Unapproved type of water facility

Access to safe and potable drinking water

Water quality and monitoring surveillance

Waterworks/Water system and well construction

Approved type of water facilities

Level 1 (Point Source)

a protected well or a developed spring with an outlet but without a distribution system

indicated for rural areas

serves 15-25 households; its outreach is not more than 250 m from the farthest user

yields 40-140 L/ min

Level II (Communal Faucet or Stand Posts)

With a source, reservoir, piped distribution network and communal faucets

Located at not more than 25 m from the farthest house

Delivers 40-80 L of water per capital per day to an average of 100 households

Fit for rural areas where houses are densely clustered

Level III (Individual House Connections or Waterworks System)

With a source, reservoir, piped distributor network and household taps

Fit for densely populated urban communities

Requires minimum treatment or disinfection

Environmental Sanitation

The study of all factors in mans physical environment, which may exercise a deleterious
effect on his health, well-being and survival.

Includes:

Water sanitation

Food sanitation

Refuse and garbage disposal

Excreta disposal

Insect vector and rodent control

Housing

Air pollution

Noise

Radiological Protection

Institutional sanitation

Stream pollution

Proper Excreta and Sewage Disposal Program

EHS sets policies on approved types of toilet facilities:

Level I

Non-water carriage toilet facility no water necessary to wash the waste into receiving
space e.g. pit latrines, reed odorless earth closet.

Toilet facilities requiring small amount of water to wash the waste into the receiving
space e.g. pour flush toilet & aqua privies

Level II

On site toilet facilities of the water carriage type with water-sealed and flush type with
septic vault/tank disposal.

Level III

Water carriage types of toilet facilities connected to septic tanks and/or to sewerage
system to treatment plant.

Food Sanitation Program

sets policy and practical programs to prevent and control food-borne diseases to alleviate
the living conditions of the population

Hospital Waste Management Program

Disposal of infectious, pathological and other wastes from hospital which combine them
with the municipal or domestic wastes pose health hazards to the people.

Hospitals shall dispose their hazardous wastes thru incinerators or disinfectants to prevent
transmission of nosocomial diseases

Program on Health Risk Minimization due to Environmental Pollution

1. Prevention of serious environmental hazards resulting from urban growth and

industrialization
2. Policies on health protection measures
3. Researches on effects of GLOBAL WARMING to health (depletion of the stratosphere
ozone layer which increases ultraviolet radiation, climate change and other conditions)
Nursing Responsibilities and Activities

Health Education IEC by conducting community assemblies and bench conferences.

The Occupational Health Nurse, School Health Nurse and other Nursing staff shall impart
the need for an effective and efficient environmental sanitation in their places of work
and in school.

Actively participate in the training component of the service like in Food Handlers
Class, and attend training/workshops related to environmental health.

Assist in the deworming activities for the school children and targeted groups.

Effectively and efficiently coordinate programs/projects/activities with other government

and non-government agencies.

Act as an advocate or facilitator to families in the community in matters of

program/projects/activities on environmental health in coordination with other members
of Rural Health Unit (RHU) especially the Rural Sanitary Inspectors.

Actively participate in environmental sanitation campaigns and projects in the

community. Ex. Sanitary toilet campaign drive for proper garbage disposal, beautification
of home garden, parks drainage and other projects.

Be a role model for others in the community to emulate terms of cleanliness in the home
and surrounding