recently.
KAPIT: A total of 24 environmental health officers and assistant environmental health officers from the various local councils throughout the state attended the Focal Persons (Public Health) meeting held at the conference room of Sibu Rural District Council recently. Chairing the meeting was the head of the Public Health Division in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing Dr. Cheong Yaw Liang. Also present at the meeting were ministry officials Nicholas Song Tiing Hee and Catherine Gee.
According to Dr Cheong the meeting among others was to deliberate on the plan of action for the year 2018 especially on the Local Key Result Areas (LKRA) that gave focus on ‘Clean Food Outlets’, Reducing Wastes/Green and Clean Market and ‘Clean and Functional Toilets’.
On Clean Food Outlets, Dr Cheong outlined that all registered food premises to have at least a ‘B’ grading by December 2018 adding that the committee is also considering to come up with a simple teaching kit on food handling that will be given to the food premises’ owners upon the renewal of their licence.
Among the plan of action on Developing ‘Green and Clean Market’ Dr Cheong said included the setting up of the Market Committee among the traders while a councillor and the officer in-charge of the market of the council could be appointed as the members.
On the other hand the committee needs to introduce the sustainable 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) programme, to provide composting and recycling storage facilities in the markets and to install water harvesting tank in the markets. He also proposed for a study trip to Lawas District Council early next year as Lawas is known to have a successful and good composting machine at their market.
Touching on the LKRA on ‘Clean and Functional Toilets’, Dr Cheong said among the plans of action include developing various designs and facilities with various options that suits the local conditions and culture, establish Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) of public toilets, develop awareness programmes on proper usage of toilets and establish a star rating system for public toilets.
Dr Cheong stressed that the standard of toilets in food outlets is vital. “It is no point to have a good food with a bad and dirty toilet as people could die because of diarrhoea,” he pointed out. He also suggested to introduce inter-division or cross-border operation for the inspection of public toilets and inspection of food premises.
On other related matter Dr. Cheong also reminded the local authorities on the prohibition of the usage of Styrofoam food containers at all eatery and to embark on a zero plastic bag campaign that has been implemented at some of the local authorities in the state.
Other issues that were also deliberated during the meeting included the licensing of Food Truck, dog destruction activities to prevent rabies and ‘Program Jaminan Keselamatan Makanan’.
He was happy to note the active participation of the members during the meeting adding that it was a fruitful meeting. “Some of the plan of action for the year 2018 might not be achievable due to certain constrain like funding. However we will fight for the fund to realise it. I believe we could achieve our target if we could work together as a team,” he said.
