Environmental Health is a multi-disciplinary science that unite the physical, natural, and health sciences in examining the effects of human activity on environment (physical, biological and chemical environment) as it impact on human health and ecosystem. Pressure created by human activity on physical, biological and chemical environment have always been, and continue to be an important determinant of ill-health and disability.
Thus, the study of Environmental Health is not limited to ecological considerations (i.e. understanding and preservation of air, water, and ,land quality) but has a much broader scope that extends to understanding and preventing detrimental effects of human activities on public health.
World Health Organization (WHO) constitution defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. Achievement and Maintenance of health requires the implementation of principle of Public Health which is the application of science and arts in the manipulation of environmental factors that influences health through organized community efforts.
Public health is about manipulation of environmental factors such as housing, income, employment, physical and psychological environments; the types of services a community have access to (e.g., hospitals, clinics, sanitation and water supply quantity and quality) and quality services to achieve desired results. These factors influence the degree of health, wellbeing and quality of life achievable by communities in a defined environment and these factors are referred to as ‘determinants of health’. It is therefore imperative that to protect the environment (our surroundings) and ecosystem interactions there is a need to train and empower health personnel to be change agents in guiding men’s activities as they endeavour to develop.
The Diploma in Environmental Health Sciences program is to produce a cadre of Health Workers known as Assistant Environmental Health Officers. This cadre of Environment Health Officers plays a central role in the implementation of Primary Health Care activities.
The aim of the course is to produce competent Assistant Environmental Health Officers (Health Inspectors) by equipping the trainees with appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes for health promotion, disease prevention and control, and promotion of other Community Based Health Care programmes.