DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(1) The department of Health at the District Assembly level consists of the office of
the District Medical Officer of Health and the Environmental Health Unit.
(2) The functions of the Department of Health are to:
(a) advise on the construction and rehabilitation of clinics and health
centers or facilities;
(b) assist in the operation and maintenance of all health facilities under the
jurisdiction of the regional and district coordinating council;
(c) assist to undertake health education and family immunization and
nutrition programmes;
(d) coordinate works of health centers or posts or community based health
workers;
(e) facilitate collection and analysis of data on health;
(f) promote and encourage good health and sanitation;
(g) facilitate diseases control and prevention;
(h) advise on management of the sick;
(i) assist to formulate, plan and implement district health policies within the
framework of national health policies and guidelines provided by the
Minister of Health;
(j) provide reports on the implementation of policies and programmes
relating to health in the District Assembly;
(k) advise the Assembly on all matters relating to health including diseases
in the district;
(l) advise on the:
(i) appointment, discipline, posting and transfer of health personnel
within the district,

(ii) formulation and appointment of District Health management
Committee, Advisory Boards, Committee of District Hospital,
Polyclinics and Health Centers,
(iii) supervision and control of all District health Institutions, and
(iv) collection of health statistical data and other relevant
information,
(m) advise on the licensing and regulation of provision of medical care
services by the private sector in the district;
(n) facilitate activities relating to mass immunization and screening for
diseases treatment in the district.
(0) assist to educate and inform residents of the district on sanitation and
personal hygiene;
(p) facilitate and assist in regular inspection of the district for detection of
nuisance of any condition likely to be offensive or injurious to human
health;
(q) assist in efficient management of clinical care, community health care
and environmental health service in the district infrastructure, to clean the
District hospital, polyclinics, health posts and dressing stations;
(r) assist to establish, install, build and control public latrines, lavatories,
urinals and wash places;
(s) assist the Assemblies in the licensing of persons to build and operate
public latrines, lavatories, urinals, washhouses and related services in the
District;
(t) monitor the activities of the operators and report to the District
Assembly;
(u) assist to establish, maintain and carry out services for the removal and
treatment of liquid waste;
(v) advise on the regulation and provision of services for removal and
treatment of liquid waste by the private sector, persons authorized or
licensed by the District Assembly;

(w) assist to establish, maintain and carry out the removal and disposal of
refuse, filth and carcasses of dead animals from any public place;
(x) assist in the disposal of dead bodies found in the district.
(y) advise on the regulation and provision of services by the private sector
licensed by the District Assembly for the removal, disposal and processing
of refuse, filth and carcasses of animals;
(z) assist to regulate any trade or business which may be harmful or
injurious to public health or a source of danger to the public or which
otherwise is in the public interest to regulate;
(aa) assist to provide for the inspection of meat, fish, vegetables and other
foodstuff and liquids of whatever kind or nature, whether intended for sale
or not and to seize, destroy and otherwise deal with such foodstuff or
liquids as are unfit for human consumption;
(bb) facilitate supervision and control of the manufacture of foodstuffs and
liquids of whatever kind or nature intended for human consumption;
(cc) assist to provide, maintain, supervise and control slaughter houses and
pounds and all such matters and things as may be necessary for the
convenient use of such slaughter houses;
(dd) advise on licensing of persons and regulation of the provision of
slaughter houses and related services;
(ee) facilitate the prevention and dealing with the outbreak and prevalence
of any diseases;
(ff) advise on the prevention of the spreading and extermination of tsetse
fly, mosquitoes, rats, bugs and other vermin in the district;
(gg) advise on the establishment and maintenance of cemeteries and
crematoria; or
(hh) advise and encourage the keeping of animals in the district including
horses, cattle, sheep and goats, domestic pets and poultry; and
(ii) assist in the control of noise, odour, dust and smoke pollution.