Health and Sanitation Programs

Environmental Health

A branch of public health that prevents illnesses by managing the environment and modifying human behavior to reduce exposure to biological and non-biological agents of disease and injury.

Environmental Health

Focuses mainly on preventing diseases because prevention is more cost-effective than treatment.

Man-Disease Agent-Environment Triad

Model describing the interaction between host, disease agent, and environment in disease transmission.

Man-Disease Agent-Environment Triad

Host can reduce the risk of disease by modifying the environment in ways that prevent the agent from entering the body.

Agent

The Microorganism that causes the disease. Either a virus, bacteria, fungi or parasite. Ex. Plasmodum

Host

The agent infects the host, which then carries the disease, and can have symptoms. Ex. Age, Genetics

Environment

External factors that affect the spread of disease but are not directly a part of the agent or the host are collectively known as the environment. Ex. Climate, Water Quality, Living Conditions

Food safety practice

The first strategy on changing people's behavior is best exemplified by the people's use of _____.

First Strategy

Food safety --> Ingestion of clean food and drinking water --> Disease prevention

Second Strategy

Wastewater treatment --> Uncontaminated groundwater table in the community --> Safe and clean drinking water

Third Strategy

Measles immunization in the community --> Children in the community with resistance against Measles --> Herd immunity among children in the community

Environmental Impact Assessment

Process of evaluating environmental changes (water quality, waste management, sanitation) to guide safer public health decisions.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Screening and Scoping, Assessment of Environmental Risk, Mitigation, Decision Making, Monitoring

Screening and Scoping

Is an Environmental Impact Assessment required and to what scale?

Assessment of Environmental Risk

What data will be collected to determine environmental risk?

Mitigation

What measures will be followed to minimize assessed environmental impacts?

Decision Making

Regulatory agency will make the final decision on the permit issuance

Monitoring

How will environmental parameters be regularly monitored for possible impacts?

Environmental Sanitation

Study of all physical environmental factors that may negatively affect health, well-being, and survival.

Environmental and Occupational Health Office (EOHO)

Office under DOH responsible for promoting healthy environmental conditions and preventing environment-related diseases.

Presidential Decree 856 (Code of Sanitation of the Philippines)

Sanitation law that guides environmental health implementation in the Philippines (1975).

Hospital Waste Management

Systematic handling, segregation, treatment, and disposal of wastes from healthcare facilities.

Infectious Waste

Waste contaminated with blood and body fluids such as bandages, gloves, and swabs.

Sharps Waste

Needles, scalpels, and broken glass.

Pharmaceutical Waste

Expired or unused medicines and vaccines.

Chemical Waste

Disinfectants, solvents, and laboratory reagents.

General (Non-Hazardous) Waste

Paper, plastics, and packaging similar to household garbage.

Types of Hospital Waste

Infectious Waste, Sharps Waste, Pharmaceutical Waste, Chemical Waste, General (Non‑Hazardous) Waste

Importance of Proper Waste Management

Protects public health; Protects healthcare staff and waste handlers; Prevents environmental contamination; Legal and ethical compliance

Protects public health

Stops hazardous and infectious materials from causing disease.

Protects healthcare staff and waste handlers

Reduces risk of injury and infection.

Prevents environmental contamination

Improper disposal can pollute air, soil, and water

Legal and ethical compliance

Hospitals must follow regulatory standards to operate safely.

Segregation, Containment, Storage, Transportation, Disposal

How is hospital waste handled and processed?

Segregation

Sorting hospital waste into categories before disposal.

Containment

Placing waste in color-coded containers to prevent exposure.

Storage

Keeping waste in secure, labeled areas before disposal.

Transportation

Use of specialized vehicles to transport hospital waste.

Hospital Waste Management Program (HWM)

Mandatory waste program required for hospital license registration or renewal.

Republic Act 8749 - Clean Air Act of 1999

Law that prohibits the use of hospital incinerators (1999).

False (Not optionol)

True or False: Adoption of appropriate technology and indigenous materials for Hospital Waste Management is optional.

True

True or False: Training of hospital personnel involved in waste management is considered an essential part of the hospital training program.

False (Responsibility of the hospital administration)

True or False: Public information campaigns about health and environmental hazards from hospital waste mismanagement are the responsibility of local government units only.

True

True or False: DOH Hospital Waste Management guidelines are aligned with existing legislative health and environmental law policies on waste management.

True

True or False: Local ordinances regarding collection and disposal techniques must be institutionalized.

Food Sanitation Program

Program ensuring food establishments meet sanitary standards for public safety.

Regulatory Compliance, Personnel Health & Training

Food establishments shall be appraised as to the following sanitary conditions

Regulatory Compliance

Inspections, Permitting, Ratings

Inspections

All food sources, containers, and transport vehicles must be inspected and approved.

Permitting

Establishments must comply with all Sanitary Permit requirements.

Ratings

Businesses are classified into three tiers: Class A, Class B, and Class C

Class A

Sanitary rating classified as Excellent.

Class B

Sanitary rating classified as Very Satisfactory.

Class C

Sanitary rating classified as Satisfactory.

Personnel Health & Training

Health Certificates, Medical Testing, Education

Health Certificate

Handlers, cooks, and helpers must maintain updated health certificates.

Medical Testing

Per DOH Administrative Order no. 1-2006, stool analyses must use the Formalin Ether Concentration Technique (FECT), which is more effective than direct smears for detecting parasites and bacterial infections.

Formalin Ether Concentration Technique (FECT)

Laboratory technique required for stool analysis under DOH AO 1-2006.

Education

Continuous training for operators and handlers is mandatory to maintain sanitation standards.

"When in doubt, throw it out"

Food safety principle meaning discard unsafe food.

Right Source, Right Preparation, Right Cooking, Right Storage

4 Rights in Food Safety

Right Source

Buying fresh food, checking expiry dates, and ensuring safe water source.

Right Preparation

Preventing cross-contamination and maintaining hygiene during preparation.

Right Cooking

Cooking food thoroughly to safe internal temperature (70°C).

Right Storage

Proper storage to prevent bacterial multiplication.

70°C

Temperature required to kill harmful microorganisms in food.

10°C-60°C

Temperature danger zone where microbes multiply rapidly.

Not more than 2 hours

Maximum time cooked food should stay at room temperature.

At least 60°C

Safe hot holding temperature for food.

10°C or below

Safe cold storage temperature for food.

Water Supply Sanitation Program

Environmental health program focused on providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. Most critical and extensively programmed area of environmental health in the Philippines.

Level 1: Point Source

Protected well or developed spring serving 15-20 households within 250m radius.

Level 2: Communal Faucet System

Communal faucet system with piped distribution and reservoir.

Level 3: Individual Connections

Fully piped system with individual household connections.

Presidential Decree 856

Foundational sanitation legislation defining water service levels and standards.

Philippine WASH Master Plan

National plan targeting universal WASH access by 2028.

Republic Act 9275 - Clean Water Act

Law governing water quality and pollution control.

PWSSMP (NEDA, 2021)

Peer-reviewed by World Bank & PIDS; targets SDG 6. It was formulated by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) from 2017 and approved in 2020, serves as the overarching policy document for the sector.

Sagana at ligtas na Tubig para sa lahat (SALINTUBIG)

Program providing water to waterless municipalities.

National Sewerage and Septage Management Program (NSSMP)

Program addressing sewage and septage management nationwide.

Philippine Approach to Total Sanitation (PhATS) / Zero Open Defecation Programs

Community-led program eliminating open defecation.

Integrated Water Resource Management

Ecosystem-wide approach balancing agricultural, industrial, and domestic water demands. Supports SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation) targets on clean water and sanitation.

Other environmental sanitation programs

Focus on preventing disease transmission by maintaining safe surroundings in communities, institutions, and public areas. These programs complement hospital waste, food, and water sanitation efforts and are implemented under the Department of Health (DOH) in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 856 or the Code of Sanitation of the Philippines.

Other environmental sanitation programs

Solid Waste Management Programs, Excreta and Sewage Disposal Program, Vector Control Programs, Housing and Public Place Sanitation, Pollution Control Programs

Solid Waste Management Programs

Proper collection, segregation, transport, treatment, and disposal of solid waste.

Republic Act 9003 - Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

Law mandating segregation at source and establishment of MRFs (2000). Legal basis of Solid Waste Management Programs.

Types of Solid Waste

Biodegradable Waste, Recyclable Waste, Residual Waste, Special Waste

Biodegradable Waste

Food scraps and garden waste.

Recyclable Waste

Paper, plastic, glass, and metals.

Residual Waste

Non-recyclable waste materials.

Special Waste

Batteries, electronics, and hazardous household waste.

3Rs Principle

Waste management principle meaning Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

Barangay facility for sorting and processing recyclables.

Key Strategies of Solid Waste Management Programs

Waste segregation at source; 3Rs Principle: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Establishment of Barangay MRFs; Composting programs; Sanitary landfills instead of open dumping

Excreta and Sewage Disposal Program

Program preventing water contamination and spread of fecal-related diseases.

Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery

Diseases caused by poor sewage disposal.

Approved Sanitary Facilities of Excreta and Sewage Disposal Program

Water-sealed toilets; Septic tanks; Sewerage systems; Community sanitation facilities

National Sewerage and Septage Management Program (NSSMP)

Related program of Excreta and Sewage Disposal Program. Promotes proper septage treatment. Encourages local government sewerage projects. Addresses low wastewater treatment coverage.

Vector Control Program

Program reducing or eliminating disease-carrying organisms.

Dengue, Malaria, Leptospirosis

Common Vector-Borne Diseases