Environmental health practitioners are the first line of defence, through education and inspections, to protect residents against pandemics and ill health.
The EHPs work tirelessly to inspect mortuaries and funeral undertaker premises to ensure the preparation, storage and preservation of human remains are conducted in line with the regulations.
“The City of Ekurhuleni issues a Certificate of Competence (CoC) in terms of regulations relating to human remains which guide funeral homes on how to handle them. The CoC can only be issued after an inspection is done by an Environmental Health Practitioner and if the premises complies with all regulations,” explains MMC for Health and Social Services Cllr Nomadlozi Nkosi.
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EHPs monitor all funeral gatherings to ensure compliance with all health protocols under the Covid-19 Level 3 regulations.
The role of the EHP in relation to compliance by undertakers is to ensure the management and employees of undertakers receive training to handle Covid-19 mortal remains in line with directions issued in terms of Covid-19 regulations.
Healthcare practitioners also visit the families of the deceased to provide education on the necessary health protocols. This is to ensure all health and safety protocols are adhered to during the funeral proceedings.
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