REDIRECTING THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

The health care system in South Africa is characterized by dominance of allopathic medicine that monopolizes the public health scenario to the detriment of non-allopathic professionals (Health Systems Trust, 1999) e.g. Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs). According to the book “Aspects of Community Health” chapter 13, Charlotte Searle said that the bulk of the resources in all countries around the globe are placed on the secondary level (curative services) of PHC (Searle. C, Brink I.L & Grobbelaar W.C, 1989). From the onset I must emphasize that we are aware that it is not only the EHPs who have a role to play in preventive and promotive health services, but it is known that the EHP has an effect on 7 of the 8 essential Primary Health Care elements (Department of Health and Welfare-Eastern Cape Province, 1996).