The Directorate of Environmental Health in Region F has led a public education and awareness campaign at the Booysens informal settlement as part of a larger effort to raise awareness about the declining state of the environment.
The campaign took place in collaboration with ANOVA, the JMPD, and the Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services (DAVS) to raise awareness about environmental issues, including the deteriorating climate.
It called for behavioural change to enable cleaner, greener, and sustainable living in harmony with nature and the possibility of shifting to a greener lifestyle.
Mercy Sepadi, the Operational Manager for Environmental Health in Region F, said awareness campaigns remind people of their responsibility to be more mindful of their environmental impact.
Environmental health practitioners and health promotion practitioners conducted door-to-door education, teaching residents about the importance of hygiene, indoor air quality, paraffin safety, waste management, water quality, and food safety.
About 72 households were visited, along with 17 informal tuck-shops and two (2) Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs). During the campaign, several challenges were identified in the community, including the lack of ablution facilities, illegal dumping and improper waste management, overcrowded homes, stagnant wastewater, rodent infestation, a lack of a drainage system, and water points. Pikitup, Joburg Water, and the Department of Social Development are committed to helping address the challenges identified.
Sandra Teffo, an Animal Health Technician from the Department of Agriculture and Veterinary Services, vaccinated dogs and cats for rabies and nobivac. Vaccines prevent distemper, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and leptospira canicola.
Teffo advised residents on the importance of vaccinating animals and deworming sheep, goats, and cattle.
Futhi Maseko, the Deputy Director of Environmental Health, expressed her gratitude to all the stakeholders involved in the campaign, emphasising that "it mustn't be the last time the City engages with the Booysens community. More campaigns should be held in other informal settlements within the region".
Written by Lesego Lala
15/06/2022
