May 28, 2007
By Lesego Madumo
THE fifth annual Alfred Nzo Achievement Awards have been presented to committed environmental health practitioners (EHPs).
Held on Friday, 25 May at the Parktonian Hotel in Braamfontein, at the end of a conference, the awards are an acknowledgment of the significant contribution that EHPs make to the city, and their involvement in transforming environmental health.
The conference focused on air quality, preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ and vector control. It was attended by health directors, doctors, the member of the mayoral committee for health and EHPs.
Nzo, a veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle, was appointed minister of foreign affairs after the first democratic elections in 1994. He died in January 2000.
Speaking at the conference, Jerry Chaka, the president of the South African Institute of Environmental Health (SAIEH), praised the health practitioners. "At all times, [you] perform beyond your managements' expectations to achieve a better life for this city's inhabitants," he said, adding that through the efforts of EHPs the profession contributed towards an improved quality of life for all Joburg residents.
Enhance performance
The City of Joburg must participate in provincial health structures. Through this, "we will be able to enhance performance within our respective cities, and therefore improve the lives of ordinary people".
The day's awards were to be valued and treasured by the recipients, as they were rewards for work well done, Chaka said. "I also appeal to the management of the City of Johannesburg to encourage EHPs to join the [institute], as this structure provides them with a platform to share experiences and establish contacts that will benefit your municipality in terms of improved service delivery."
In her keynote speech, Matshidiso Mfikoe, the mayoral committee member for health, said it gave her great pleasure to be a part of a conference at which one of the greatest sons of the soil, Alfred Nzo, was honored. The objectives of the Nzo awards were to promote unity among EHPs and to promote professionalism and interaction.
Environmental Health Practitioners from the City were awarded certificate for the sterling job they do
Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg
She said that environmental health had a critical role to play, "to champion the cause of improving the lives of people of this country and of Johannesburg in particular".
The City was investing in environmental health through funds earmarked for the employment of new environmental health officers. She was speaking after the City's health budget was announced on 24 May, in which she said that R5-million would be invested in bettering the health of Joburgers.
"[Executive Mayor] Amos Masondo and I are fully committed to ensuring that environmental health services are delivered in terms of the National Health Act."
To the EHPs, Mfikoe said, "I've not had the opportunity to meet you all personally, [but] be assured that with the reports I receive, you are highly valued and your work is greatly appreciated."
Soccer world cup
Joburg expected more than 600 000 visitors from across the globe during the soccer world cup. "I'm sure that we would all want them to have not only an African experience, [but] a Joburg experience."
There was a lot of work to be done to ensure that the city did not disappoint the country or the spectators. "Let us continue to work harder and together we can move mountains."
Peter Manganye, the deputy director in the City's environmental health unit, spoke of the health hazards and opportunities in the run-up to the soccer tournament. There was a shortage of EHPs in Johannesburg, resulting in an excessive workload.
One of the challenges was to establish a task team to monitor environmental health issues.
Another was to ensure that environmental health and sustainability issues were "included in all infrastructure development plans, as well as transport, security, medical and disaster management services".
Joburg would "employ more EHPs to assist with rendering services. [We are also going to] interact with other council departments and municipal-owned entities to ensure that environmental health issues are included in all infrastructure development plans," Manganye said.
The City would also "strengthen and capacitate environmental health to ensure that there was an enhancement of public health in 2010 and beyond".
The environment would be cleaner and the number of businesses conforming to this council's by-laws and other legislation enforced by the environmental health department would increase.
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