ABSTRACT
Environmental health is the ecological balance that must exist between man and his environment in order to ensure his well being. This paper describes the range of environmental hazards (physical, biological, chemical and social) and discusses the differences in level and quality of environmental health programmes between developed and developing countries. The hazards are the same in both realms; the difference is in the level of advocacy and, thus, the demand for implementation of sound environmental health policies and practices. Issues which developing countries need to address to improve environmental health management are outlined.(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Environmental Health , Developing Countries , Hazardous Substances , Consumer Advocacy , Developed Countries , Ecosystem , Environmental Pollution , Health Policy , Health Priorities , Health Status , Jamaica , Public Health , Socioeconomic FactorsSubject(s)
Humans , Community Medicine/education , Disaster Planning , Education, Medical, Undergraduate/organization & administration , International Agencies/organization & administration , Interinstitutional Relations , Schools, Medical/organization & administration , Curriculum , Organizational Objectives , Preventive Medicine/education , West IndiesSubject(s)
Disaster Planning , Schools, Medical , Health Personnel , Community Medicine , Education , Health EducationABSTRACT
The need for occupational health and safety programmes at the workplace is increasingly being dictated by mushrooming industrialization throughout the Caribbean. Regrettably, occupational health legislation and regulation, which should guide these programmes and protect the health of workers, have failed to keep pace with the level of technology. Indeed statutory guidelines are deficient in most Caribbean countries as parameters and scope tend to be ill-defined and application piecemeal. Examination of the pieces of legislation was done to determine those with provisions for occupational health and safety. Companion regulations were either not made available or were found to be superficial in the treatment of the provisions of legislation by failing to provide standards which are measurable and not open to varying interpretation by all parties concerned. There is therefore an urgent need to address occupational health and safety through national policy which recognizes their importance to development and also, to prepare appropriate statutory guidelines for occupational health programmes, standards - TLVs, PELs, etc., training/education as well as participation of employees in occupational health and safety matters
Subject(s)
Occupational Health/legislation & jurisprudence , West IndiesABSTRACT
The goal of this publication is to provide the student with basic but essential information on the management of lice as a community health problem.(AU)
Subject(s)
Arthropods , PhthirapteraABSTRACT
The goal of this publication is to provide the student with basic but essential information on the management of lice as a community health problem.
Subject(s)
Arthropods , PhthirapteraABSTRACT
The goal of this publication is to provide the student with basic but essential information on the management of lice as a community health problem.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Arthropods , Caribbean Region , Developing Countries , PhthirapteraSubject(s)
Cyclonic Storms , Health Effects of Disasters , Health Services , West Indies , Damage Assessment , Disaster RecoveryABSTRACT
This paper gives a brief historical review of herbal medicines in Jamaica-focusing on its practitioners through obeah, myalism and the balmyard system. It highlights the role of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, U.W.I. in exposing medical students to traditional medicine, and the philosophy of the Department as it supports this position. It submits aspects of research projects carried out by medical students on the subjects in years 11, 111 and 1V of community medicine clerkships, and concludes with relevant supportive comments by the co-ordinator of the year IV clerkship. (Summary)
Subject(s)
Humans , Medicine, Traditional , Herbal Medicine , Jamaica , Curriculum , Education, Medical, UndergraduateSubject(s)
Humans , Pesticides/poisoning , Environmental Pollutants , Jamaica , Environmental Health , Public HealthSubject(s)
Humans , Environmental Pollutants , Pesticides/poisoning , Environmental Health , Jamaica , Public HealthABSTRACT
Five people who ate fish at an evening meal became ill 6-8 hours later. Early symptoms included diarrhoea, vomiting, leg weakness and parasthesia. Emergency management for three patients took place in a Casualty Department and they were discharged within 8 hours. However, while the patients were recovering, a variety of other symptoms developed but they were able to return to school and work within 1-2 weeks, though symptoms persisted for some weeks thereafter. This small outbreak of ciguatera fish poisoning highlights the need for more information about this disease among the general public and the medical profession (AU)
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , 21003 , Child , Humans , Fishes, Poisonous , Foodborne Diseases/etiology , Marine Toxins/poisoning , Foodborne Diseases/genetics , JamaicaABSTRACT
This communication addresses the issue of food safety and community health. It focusses on health in terms of its contribution to quality of life and to production. Mothers and children are at greatest risk, particularly in developing countries. The role that a community can play in identifying risk factors associated with nutrition, in improving the quality of food intake and in monitoring growth and standards, is illustrated through a brief review of two programmes initiated and piloted through the Department of Social and Preventative Medicine, University of the West Indies - the Backyard Nursery Project and the Community Health Aide Project. The value of backyard gardening is highlighted (AU)
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Child Day Care Centers/standards , Food Contamination/prevention & control , Food Services/standards , JamaicaABSTRACT
The Department of Preventive Medicine of the University of the West Indies was established in 1957 with the idea of improving undergraduate teaching facilities to enable medical students to study patients in their homes and social environment. The authors describe the two public health diploma programs available at the University and cite pertinent enrollment and geographic distribution statistics. Candidates for the Diploma in Public Health are registered medical practitioners who take a series of compulsory and elective subjects and have a period of supervised field training and research during the 12-month course. The Diploma in Community Health trains students in the health and diseases of man in his total environment. Students choose among three program options: the general program, specialization in health education, or specialization in health service administration. The general program is the most popular because it gives the student a rounded education suitable to the needs of small states. The 12-month diploma course features the interdisciplinary approach where students from various fields discuss important issues in community health. Comprehensive courses in these areas include health services administration, social sciences, environmental health, epidemiology and biostatistics, family health, communication science, and community mental health. The authors state that the candidate for the Diploma in Community Health is assessed on the basis of course and field work, a special project report, and a final written and oral examination. (SUMMARY)
