The Provincial Government is highlighting the work of public sector employees in the environmental public health field by recognizing September 21 to 25 as Environmental Public Health Week in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and Service NL, made the proclamation earlier today.
Since 2003, Environmental Public Health Week celebrates and recognizes the important work undertaken by Certified Public Health Inspectors and other Environmental Public Health Professionals (EPHPs) who are in communities every day ensuring the public remains safe and healthy.
This year’s theme, “Public Health is a Collective Effort”, was chosen to highlight the role EPHPs play in helping protect the health of Canadians. This year, with the onset of COVID-19 and evolving public health guidelines, EPHPs play an integral role in ensuring safe and healthy environments for families and communities to live, work and play during a global pandemic.
EPHPs have a wide range of responsibilities including food safety inspections, monitoring the bacteriological quality of drinking water and carrying out health-related inspections of day cares, schools, personal care homes and long-term care facilities and recreational facilities. EPHPs also oversee investigations into food and waterborne diseases, inspect and approve private sewage disposal systems and participate in community emergency preparedness and response.
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 and other environmental public health professionals in Canada.
Quotes
“Potential environmental health hazards that can affect our daily lives are prevented because of the hard work of environmental public health professionals. From troubleshooting issues to front line support, they are key to ensuring the health and safety of communities throughout our province.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Minister of Digital Government and Service NL
“This week celebrates and recognizes the important work that environmental Public Health professionals undertake every day to ensure our communities are healthy and safe. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador values their continued efforts to enforce regulations and best practices that help to provide a safe food supply chain, clean water and infectious disease control. This year more than ever, we are so very appreciative of their efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services
“Environmental Public Health Professionals are dynamic and diverse. The practice affects our whole community and challenges us to provide support, prevention and education in the face of adversity. Public health matters and it is a collective effort. We thank our Environmental Public Health Professionals for all they do on the front lines and behind the scenes.”
Tammy McDonald
Branch President, CIPHI-NL
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Environmental Health
Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
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Media contacts
Krista Dalton
Service NL
729-4748, 685-6492
kristadalton@gov.nl.ca
Kathy Dicks-Peyton
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 699-1982
kathydickspeyton@gov.nl.ca
Tammy McDonald
Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
709-729-0248
tammymcdonald@gov.nl.ca