The Environmental health department at MMH ensures that living conditions
are safe and healthy, and that safe hygiene is practiced. The aim of the
department is to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases.

The department works towards healthy living conditions through the
following programmes:

Water and sanitation
A safe source of water, such as a borehole, is maintained in every village in the catchment area, working with village water committees. In the aftermath of severe floods in 2015 and 2018, the department constructed thousands of new latrines with communities to
prevent outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases. Annual cholera awareness activities are done at the hospital.

Malda Pump
 

Malaria control
Through the promotion of bednets, early testing and treatment for malaria, Indoor Residual Spraying and Larval Source Management the department has succesfully reduced the burden of malaria over the past ten years. In the past three malaria seasons, not a single child under-five has died of malaria in the intervention area.

               

The malaria control programme at MMH has received international attention and is a model for programmes in other African countries.  Read more in the 2019-20 Vector control report.

Vaccination
The EH department works within the government-led Expanded Programme on Immunization and achieves high rates for childhood immunization. Covid-19 vaccination is done at the hospital and during outreach activities.

Community health work
Health Surveillance Assistants, government-paid community health workers, do health promotion and treat minor illnesses in the area. These HSAs report to the Environmental Health Office. The work includes prevention of tuberculosis and Covid-19.

Infection prevention
Proper waste disposal, adequate drainage and food safety in the area are overseen by the department.

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