THE 4TH ALL AFRICAN CONGRESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

It was a thrilling moment as Mr. Kennedy Nduna, the CEO of Nvumabaranda group of companies, sponsored 3 ladies of the MEHA Women’s chapter to attend the 4^th all African Congress on Environmental Health. The 4th All Africa Congress on Environmental Health took place at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg from 11^th to 13^th November 2024. This important event brought together Environmental Health practitioners from across Africa to exchange knowledge, earn Continuing Educational Units (CEUs), and gain insights into the future of Environmental Health. This year’s theme, “Environmental Health in Africa: Readiness for the 4th Industrial Revolution,” highlighted Africa’s commitment to addressing Environmental Health challenges. The aim of the Congress was to address Environmental Health Challenges, share knowledge, innovative ideas and resources, strengthen partnership, share research (joint publication is a strong indication of collaboration) and determine to enhance the delivery of Environmental Health in the 4^th industrial revolution. There is a need to develop innovative ideas to work for the whole of Africa. As Environmental Health Practitioners, we need to do more research that is innovative and impactful to our future generation. We need to do more research in some of our scope of practice. One of the presentations made at the conference was on perceived facilitators and barriers to handwashing behaviors among new mothers and guardians in Malawi. These findings were made by the Water, Sanitation, Health and Technology Development (WASHTED) and the presentation was done by Kondwani Luwe representing WASHTED.

The event was sponsored by the South Africa Institute of Environmental Health, South Africa Local Government Association, Swiss Embassy, Nvumabaranda Group of Companies, and Old Mutual for hosting the All Africa Congress. There is a struggle of the Environmental Health Practitioners of Africa in their fight for ensuring food safety, water quality, pollution control, chemical safety, vector control, climate change, communicable diseases, disease outbreaks, hazardous substances control, malaria control and safe disposal of the dead. Recognizing the fundamental importance of technology, health information management information, research, training and development in strengthening environmental health services in Africa. As Environmental Health professionals, we declared the following:

• We declare that we are going to strengthen collaboration between all sectors locally and regionally to deal with EH Challenges within Africa
• We recognize the urgent need to develop common approaches for Local Government Challenges facing our continent
• We acknowledge that under sourcing of Local Government (EH) needs urgent attention
• We commit to strengthen efforts to reduce carbon footprints to combat climate change
• We reaffirm the need to strengthen technological systems to support decision making within the EH field
• We acknowledge need to unit as a profession to mobilize as a united force to deal with Environmental Health issues in Africa
• We commit to strengthen our role within the Environmental impact assessment process to influence decision making in multi-disciplinary specialist teams
• We recognize the need for increased utilization of alternative technologies to deal with basic service delivery issues
• We acknowledge the need for use of data mapping and targeted interventions for improved Environmental Health surveillance and monitoring
• We recognize the need for private sectors and NGOs to identify opportunities for collaboration and partnership with the government and academia in creating investment opportunities and financing models required for the fourth industrial revolution
• We recognize the need for researchers and environmental health practitioners to use the opportunities brought by the 4^th industrial revolution to anticipate emerging Environmental health threats and think of technologies which have potential to promote predictability and transparency in risk preparedness and response.
• We note the need to strengthen awareness and advocacy to capacitate communities and business sector (Developmental approach)  
• To reaffirm the need for Government, Private sectors, civil society, research institutions and professional bodies to work together in dealing with illegal chemicals that cross our borders and have detrimental health impacts on the vulnerable communities and children
• We recognize the need for Environmental health practitioners to do more impactful research on the scope of practice areas which have been neglected
• We recognize the need for Environmental health practitioners to do more impactful research on the scope of practice areas which have been neglected
• We recognize the need for universal health coverage in ensuring that everyone has a right to quality health care based on their health needs
• We reaffirm the need for environmental health and other preventative services to be better resourced and prioritized to ensure that fewer people end up in health facilities

The Congress was an ideal platform for presenting research findings since it was an international forum, which consisted of researchers, education scientists and industry representatives who are experts.

The following pictures are an overview of the event: