Media Advisory - World Environmental Health Day 2017

The theme for World Environmental Health Day is Indoor & Outdoor Air Quality

PRETORIA, South Africa, September 22, 2017/APO/ -- 

The Department of Health joins the World to commemorate the World Environmental Health Day on the 26-27 September 2017. The theme for World Environmental Health Day is “Indoor & Outdoor Air Quality”. The theme is focused on the effects of poor air quality, including both indoor and outdoor air pollution to the population, particularly children under five years as they are at risk of developing life time respiratory complications from exposure to poor air quality.

In honouring the memory of the late Alfred Nzo, a ‘Health Inspector’ in Alexander, who’s experiences of poor living conditions of people in the Alexander township, forged much of the understanding of the lives of millions of South Africans in the 1950s, the National Department of Health will present Alfred Nzo Environmental Health Excellence Awards to deserving Municipalities, Points of Entry and Environmental Health Students. The categories are as follows:

• Best Performing Environmental Health Student.
• Best performing Point of Entry in terms of Environmental health norms and standards.
• Best compliant point of entry in terms of the international health regulations 2005.
• Best performing municipality in terms of Environmental health norms and standards.
• Best Improved Municipality in terms of Environmental health norms and standards.
• Best Innovative Municipality in environmental health.
• Best practice municipality in environmental health.

In recognition of the World Environmental health Day the Department of Health has the following Key Messages:

• Protect the air we breathe, protect the future.
• Making all places safe for our children.
• Know how poor air pollution affects your health.

The Department of Health would like to urge all South Africans to live a healthy life by keeping the environment clean and prevent the spread of diseases.

Media is invited to cover the event as follows:Date: 26-27 September 2017Time: 09:00Venue: Umfolozi Hotel & Resort, KwaZulu Natal Province.For RSVP: Tlou Tlhako: Mobile: 071 382 7425.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Health.