On Friday, 26 July 2024, the Environmental Health Response Committee of MHS reached out to the community of Magnolia Flats in Paarl East, Paarl, to raise awareness about Hepatitis in honour of World Hepatitis Day, celebrated on Sunday, July 28, 2024.
The event included distributing pamphlets with general information about Hepatitis and demonstrations on proper handwashing techniques, as hands are a common way that diseases spread.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by various infectious viruses, which can lead to serious health problems.
Paarl East has historically seen a significant number of Hepatitis cases, with ongoing diagnoses. The team chose to visit the community on Friday morning to educate residents about Hepatitis, recognising that there is often a lack of information regarding communicable diseases. The walking tour around the neighbourhood and handwashing demonstrations was well received.
Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) are responsible for investigating cases of communicable diseases, as notified by the Department of Health in the CWDM area. Addressing these is one of the nine core functions at MHS.
Our MHS team is committed to ensuring that our communities are informed and empowered to lead healthy lifestyles. As the saying goes, everyone has the right to live in a healthy environment.
