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Environmental health issues are complex and multispectral. They require
involvement of professionals from several sectors apart from the environment and
health professionals from agencies, at all levels. Local environmental health action
plan should not be done in isolation to national environmental health action plan.
Local and national plan should be integrated with proper flow of information
Table 4.2 Principles related to health needs and action
Part
Principle
Sub-principle
PART I. Principles
related to health needs
1. Protection against
communicable diseases
1.1 Safe as well as adequate
water supply
1.2 Sanitary disposal of excreta
1.3 Disposal of solid wastes
1.4 Drainage of surface waters
1.5 Personal as well as domestic
hygiene
1.6 Safe food preparation
1.7 Structural safeguards against
disease transmission
2. Protection against injuries,
chronic diseases and poisoning
2.1 Structural features and
furnishing
2.2 Indoor air pollution
2.3 Chemical safety
2.4 The home as a workplace
3. Reducing social and psychological stresses to a minimum
4. Improving the housing environment
5. Making informed use of housing
6. Protecting populations at special risk
PART II. Principles
related to health action
7. Health advocacy
7.1 Role of the health authorities
7.2 Role of related groups
7.3 Communicating health
messages
8. Economic and social policies
9. Intersectoral action for
development, planning and
management
9.1 Development planning as
well as management
9.2 Urban as well as land-use
planning
9.3 Housing legislation,
standards as well as enforcement
9.4 Design and construction of
housing
9.5 Provision of community
services
9.6 Monitoring as well as
surveillance
10. Education on healthy housing
11. Community cooperation as well as self-help
4.2 Governing Principle