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Ekurhuleni environmental health practitioners (EHPs) continue to monitor funeral undertakers and mortuary premises amid the ongoing fight against Covid-19.
EHPs are the first line of defence, through education and inspections, to protect residents against pandemics and ill health.
The EHPs are working 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 relating to the management of human remains.
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“The City of Ekurhuleni issues a Certificate of Competence (CoC) in terms of regulations relating to human remains which guides funeral homes on how to handle human remains,” said Ekurhuleni MMC for Health and Social Services Clr Nomadlozi Nkosi.
“The CoC can only be issued after an inspection is done by an environmental health practitioner and if the premises comply with all regulations.”
The City’s EHPs monitor all funeral gatherings to ensure compliance with all health protocols under the Covid-19 level three regulations.
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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.
Health-care practitioners also visit the families of the deceased to provide education on necessary health protocols.
This is to ensure all Covid-19 health and safety protocols are adhered to during the funeral proceedings.