Government Services
Health and Community Services
January 17, 2011
Environmental Public Health Week Proclaimed
The Provincial Government has proclaimed this week (January 17-23) as Environmental Public Health Week in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Departments of Government Services and Health and Community Services collaborate on the province’s environmental health program, which contributes to the protection of public health.
“Environmental health officers have an impact on many aspects of our lives,” said the Honourable Harry Harding, Minister of Government Services. “Environmental Public Health Week speaks to the wide range of inspection activities undertaken to help protect people from exposure to certain common health risks. I commend the work these officers do every day and their dedication in promoting and protecting public health.”
Environmental health officers in Newfoundland and Labrador are responsible for a wide variety of approvals and inspection services in areas such as food safety, smoke-free environments, drinking water quality, prevention of tobacco sales to youth, public swimming pools and other recreational facilities, day cares, schools, personal care homes and long-term and group care facilities. They are also involved in communicable disease outbreak management, onsite sewage disposal assessments, and emergency preparedness and response.
“Environmental public health professionals play an important role in the health of Newfoundland and Labrador’s communities,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. “From ensuring food safety to facilitating the reduction of tobacco use, this group of professionals performs a broad range of important work to prevent disease and to promote and protect public health.”
Environmental Public Health Week is a national campaign by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI), the only professional association for public health inspectors in Canada. Inspectors are certified by the Board of Certification for CIPHI, a process that guarantees only individuals demonstrating the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for successful performance are accepted into the profession.
“During Environmental Public Health Week, I would like to extend a thank you to all environmental public health professionals for their continued commitment to advancing our profession and their tireless efforts over the past year,” said Sara Timpa, Newfoundland and Labrador Branch President, CIPHI. “With natural disasters such as Hurricane Igor, the true dedication and commitment of environmental public health professionals in the province has shone through. During this time, they provided assistance and information on such issues as water, food and housing safety, thereby striving to keep the residents of the province healthy and safe, something they always do through their everyday activities.”
For more information regarding Environmental Public Health Week visit www.ciphi.nl.ca
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Media contacts:
| Vanessa Colman-Sadd Director of Communications Department of Government Services 709-729-4860, 682-6593 vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca |
Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 685-2646 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca |
| Sara Timpa Newfoundland and Labrador Branch President Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors 709-292-4207 saratimpa@gov.nl.ca |
2011 01 17 11:00 a.m.