17th International Fedration Of Environment Health Congress
September 25, 2024
World Environmental Health Day 2023 was commemorated at the South Taveuni Secondary School in Taveuni for the Northern Division on 28th September 2023 with the theme: GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH: STANDING UP TO PROTECT EVERYONE’S HEALTH EACH AND EVERY DAY.
The commemoration was hosted at South Taveuni Secondary School in agreement with the other subdivisions within the northern division and DHIN. This host school is situated in Vuna District which has a population of 4,104. There are four primary schools in the district and all the students after completing their primary school education, enrol in South Taveuni Secondary School. Therefore, students in this school are representative of all the communities in the district. Since EH is an interesting career path with varied areas of work within public, private and NGO sector, therefore, while students had an opportunity to better understand about all the different careers they can take up if they pursue further studies in EH, more importantly Vuna District is a high risk area related to various health issues mostly related to the KRAs in EH work that exposes environment as well as the residents directly. While students acquired knowledge on career path, they also better understood important aspects of taking care of their own health as a take away lesson/message. Children are proven to be wonderful agents of change therefore the awareness sessions and the research on various KRAs by students participating in the activities broadened their knowledge on EH and this is anticipated to infiltrate to the communities they represent both in the short and long term thus bring about behavioral changes.
The program was co-funded by Ministry of Health & Medical Services and The Fiji Institute of Environmental Health.
Purpose of the Commemoration
World Environmental Health Day commemoration to create awareness on the importance of EH work to tackle public health issues by realizing that human activity is responsible for most degradation of the natural world.
Objectives
- Raise awareness amongst students and teachers about environmental health and its impacts.
- Filter down knowledge on EH down to the communities through students as agents of behavioural change.
- To build capacity of Teachers and students to take ownership of the natural environment around us in preventing common diseases especially LTDD.
The objectives were aptly met as per observations of various activities students, teachers and parents took part in as well as the feedback received.
Participants/Logistics/Activities
There were 15 staffs from various Health Offices in the northern division including DHIN. Other staffs joining the program were the SDMO, Dieticians, Nurses, etc. from the Taveuni Hospital.
A total of approximately 550 students, Teachers and Parents participated in the day long program.
The program started with booth displays showcasing different KRAs EH Officers work in whereby all participants went through. There were four booths with KRA responsibilities as follows. Each team prepared resources including banners/IEC materials for setup of their allocated booth and each team was allocated maximum 30mins session for each group rotating through the booths between 9am-11.30am for education.
- Tobacco Control/Legal Enforcement – Team Bua, TCEU
- Quarantine/Pollution Control – Team Cakaudrove
- WASH/Health Promotion – Team Macuata
- Vector Control/CD/Food Safety – Taveuni, DSON
Soon after the booth display visits, the formal program began with DHIN presiding as the Chief Guest. It started with the flag raising ceremony and national anthem. Thereafter, DHIN and other invited guests (SDMO-Taveuni and Turaga Tui Vuna) were introduced following which, the Chief Guest delivered his keynote address focusing on environment and the relation to preventable diseases. There were:
- 9 Orators speaking on various topics based on the EH KRAs
- Poster displays by 47 students
- 5 Skits/dramas on various KRAs
All the activities were assessed by a panel of judges with strict point system criteria and guideline to declare winners. There were cash prizes and certificates in each activity the students participated in as follows:
- Cash prizes (Poster & Oratory: 1st – $75, 2nd – $50, 3rd – $25; Skits/Dramas: 1st
- $100, 2nd – $75, 3rd – $50 with certificates for all participants)
- 1 appreciation prize for the school (the school was presented 25 garbage bins with lids for waste management, 4 cartons of hand soap and 1 tippy tap for handwashing).
The formal program concluded with cake cutting, presentation of prizes and certificates and closing remarks by SDHI-Cakaudrove. All the participants were treated to a nutritious vegetarian lunch to end the day.
Aquittal
Cheque from The Fiji Institute of Environmental Health: FJ$1,000.00 (Cash Cheque/Westpac)
Expenses: Receipts attached
| Receipt/Invoice # | Date | Expense Item | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90026687 | 19/09/2023 | 23L Rubbish bins with lid x 25 | $255.00 |
| LZRC0001376560 | 19/09/2023 | Eco-friendly lunch box and plates | $185.60 |
| 13200057137 | 27/09/2023 | Refreshment | $50.00 |
| 28/09/2023 | Poster Competition 1st Prize | $75.00 | |
| 28/09/2023 | Poster Competition 2nd Prize | $50.00 | |
| 28/09/2023 | Poster Competition 3rd Prize | $25.00 | |
| 28/09/2023 | Oratory Contest 1st Prize | $75.00 | |
| 28/09/2023 | Oratory Contest 2nd Prize | $50.00 | |
| 28/09/2023 | Oratory Contest 3rd Prize | $25.00 | |
| 28/09/2023 | Drama/Skit Contest 1st Prize | $100.00 | |
| 28/09/2023 | Drama/Skit Contest 2nd Prize | $75.00 | |
| 28/09/2023 | Drama/Skit Contest 3rd Prize | $50.00 | |
| Total | $1,015.60 |
| Cost Item | Details | Selected Service Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Vehicle Transfer (Vatuyalewa to Taveuni & Return) – NHS Minibus driven by either SDHI – C on-board Vatuyalewa Barge Sevices | $480.00 (includes free passage for driver) |
| Boat Fare for staffs | 10 Staffs x $30 Return | $300.00 |
| Catering (EH Day Commemoration for staff/Students refreshment & Lunch and commemoration cake) Catering for Divisional EH Meeting (29th September 2023 at Taveuni Hospital Conference Room) | Bulk cooking: 300 x $4.00 per person 15ppl x $15 | $1,200.00 $225.00 |
| Accommodation | 7 rooms x 3 nights | $2,070.00 |
| Total Expense | Invoices & Receipts sent to accounts | FJ$4,275.00 |
Conclusion
The program on the day was memorable and the goal of showcasing EH work and eventually passing on the message/knowledge to students as the agents of change for health was successfully achieved.
We would like to thank the Principal, teachers and students, and not forgetting the parents who participated in the event at the school. The program and preparedness was beyond our expectations. The teachers did a marvelous job preparing the students for the different activities. The talent displayed by the students in their artistic, oratory and acting skills were just superb. MOHMS team thoroughly enjoyed sharing the knowledge on different topics of health and also watching and listening to the students as they presented their researched topics. Certainly, the day’s event broadened the knowledge of everyone who participated.
Our appreciation to the executives of the Institute for the timely assistance towards the program, contribution of EHOs from various Health Offices in the North and finally the immense support from DHIN.
Vinaka!
Team Taveuni
