Port Health
The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has responsibility for the Port Health Surveillance aimed at inspecting/monitoring/enforcing vessels and aircraft as well as food establishments that are associated with the operations at the ports of entry in accordance with local and international health regulations.
The Port Health and Quarantine Officer is the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) assigned to conduct these inspections to ensure satisfactory sanitary conditions are followed to prevent the importation of disease and ensuring all food safety standards for imported foods.
Since the Port of George Town is an authorized port, the EHO conducts Ship Sanitation Inspections with a view to issue Ship Sanitization Exemption Certificates, or Ship Sanitation Certificates. These activities are conducted in conjunction with the Public Health Surveillance Officer.
- Collection of drinking water samples in keeping with international quarantine standards
- Conduct ship sanitation inspection measures in keeping with the issuance of ship sanitation control/ exemption certificate
- Supervise the sanitary removal and disposal of international waste
- Prevent removal of food and international waste by passengers and crew
- Supervise desensitization of aircraft
- Supervise residual spraying of aircraft
- Inspect and verify documents(general declaration of health and maritime declaration of health)
- Conduct interviews as it relates to general declaration of health and maritime declaration of health.
- Ensure Ministry of Health approval for the discharge of Annex 1 waste is in place, verify advanced notification forms and supervise discharge of waste.
- Ensure Quarantine Supervisor’s approval for the discharge of Annex 5 waste is in place, verify advanced notification forms and supervise discharge of waste.
- Conduct paramedical assessment of crew and passenger to determine quarantine measures to be observed
- Conduct environmental sanitation activities within the confines of the ports and airport in keeping with port health and quarantine laws.
- Inspection of galleys, stores and associated food preparation entities
- Supervise Vector Control Workers assigned to the airport and ports
- Prepare and submit reports
- Prepare daily summary