Public health is primary responsibility of local authorities - Kurunegala PS Chairman

Stanley Seneviratne Kurunegala North Group Correspondent

“Public health is the primary responsibility of all Local Authorities and detailed legal provisions are contained in Municipal Councils, Urban Councils Ordinance and the Pradeshiya Sabha Act. Local Authorities (MC, UC and PS) is designated as the General Administrative Authority for the purpose of promoting and securing the Public Health within its area.”

The above observations were made by the Chairman, Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha Patrick Karunasinghe addressing the Public Health Inspectors and the relevant officials of the Health Unit of the Kurunegala PS at the workshop organised by the Community Development Unit of the PS held at the PS auditorium.

He said that there are several other laws, which give additional powers to Local Authorities on public health such as the Food Act, Nuisance Ordinance, Contagious Diseases, Registration of Dogs Ordinance, Animal Act, Rabies Ordinance, Butchers Ordinance, Cemeteries and Burial Grounds Ordinance, Municipal Dairies and Laundries Ordinance, Suburban Dairies and Laundries Ordinance. Local Authority’s own by-laws and standards by-laws assist Local Authorities to discharge their responsibilities on public health more effectively.

The PS Chairman said as public health is a primary functions of Local Authorities and as it affects the community at large, every Local Authority must take utmost care to discharge this responsibility most effectively and efficiently.

Speaking on the important aspects relating to public health in Local Authorities Karunasinghe observed that services of Medical officers of Health and Public Health Inspectors, Public Health in a Local Authority is in charge of Medical Offices of Health. Except in some municipalities, there are no Medical officers of Health working in Local Authorities full time. It is the MOH (now designated as Divisional Director of Health Services) belonging to the Department of Health Services who has to function as the MoH in other Local Authorities.

Local Authorities have been instructed by circulars that they should pass resolutions appointing MOHs as Executive Officers of the Local Authority and placing them in charge of activities on public health and sanitation, but most Local Authorities have not complied with this requirement.

Karunasinghe also observed that, Maternity and Child Welfare Local Authorities are very much involved in the creation of a healthy notion through the maternity and child welfare clinics run by them. Every Local Authority has one or more maternity and child welfare clinics.

Market and Fairs: Proper maintenance of sanitary conditions in markets and fairs, including private markets and fairs is one of the activities coming under the public health responsibility of a Local Authority.

The sole of meat is carried out only in public markets or in private markets approved by the Local Authority.

Toilets: As public health authorities Local Authorities are responsible to ensure that proper and sufficient toilets are provided for all houses and buildings within their areas of operation and to provide public toilet facilities to all public places particularly towns and to ensure that both private and public toilets are maintained in proper order and condition.

Conservancy and scavenging: Conservancy services has been now curtailed due to the introduction of sewerage schemes and modern water sealed toilets. Scavenging is still a pressing problem and is one of the prime duties of a Local Authority.

Drainage: Another important public health activity cast on a Local Authority is the proper maintenance of a drainage system in the area of operation, in order to prevent stagnation of waste water and the resultant nuisance caused particularly breeding of mosquitoes.

Local Authorities have a duty by law not only to construct and maintain drains along thoroughfares belonging to them, but also to cleanse the drains managed by RDA and to supervise the condition of private drains.

Slaughter Houses: No place in the Local Authority area can be used as a slaughter house other than the place provided by the Local Authority, without a licence obtained by the Local Authority. Control of slaughtering animals is another public health activity of a Local Authority.

The Chairman also observed that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Local Government Reforms has observed that most Local Authorities do not discharge their public health responsibilities effectively in Local Authorities which do not have their own MOHs.

The biggest problem is the lack of good coordination between the MOH and his staff and the head of Local Authority and his staff and most Local Authorities do not have an action programme for activities relating to public health.