SE 405 - PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEERING

BS Sanitary Engineering
Prepared by: Engr. Lovely Cantos Añonuevo

MODULE 1: Introduction to Public Health Engineering

INTRODUCTION

In this module, we will discuss the overview of Public Health Engineering

as one of the major field of specialization in Sanitary Engineering. Important
concepts and their definition will be introduced and be discussed.

TOPIC OUTCOMES

1. Articulate several definitions of Public Health.

2. Define Public Health Engineering and the important concepts and their
applications.
3. Determine the role of Sanitary Engineers in the field of Public Health
Engineering
4. Identify the areas of concern and the most common environmental and
health factors that are significant to Public Health Engineering.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME

ILO1 - To have knowledge and understanding on Public Health Engineering:

Introduction, Scope and Applications.

CONTENT

The protection of public health and the promotion of comfort and well-
being through the control of man’s environment are responsibilities which
current circumstances have strained upon us. The population increases and the
diversity of human activities which have accompanied that increase have made
control more intricate. The goal of public health interventions is to prevent,
control and properly manage diseases and other health conditions through
surveillance of cases and the promotion of healthy behaviors, communities and
environments.

HEALTH
In the preamble to the constitution of World Health Organization (WHO),
it is defined as the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This considerably broadens
the field of public health work, which formerly was considered to be concerned

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primarily with preventive medicine or the application of measures to prevent
diseases.

Health can also be defined from many perspectives, ranging from:

statistics of mortality, life expectancy and morbidity rates. It is the sate of
equilibrium of the person with the physical, biological and social environment
with the object of maximum functional capability.

Health was characterized by:

- Anatomic, physiologic and psychological integrity;
- An optimal functional capability in the family, work and societal roles;
- A feeling of well-being; and
- Freedom from risk of diseases and premature death.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Images of Public Health

- Public Health : the system and social enterprise
- Public Health : the profession
- Public Health : the methods (knowledge and techniques)
- Public Health : government services (especially medical care for the
poor)
- Public Health : the health of the public

Public health evokes several different images among the general public
and those dedicated to its improvement. To only a relatively small number, the
term describes a broad social enterprise or system. To others, the term
describes the professionals and workforce whose jobs is to solve certain
important health problems. Still another image of public health is that it is a
body of knowledge and techniques that can be applied to health – related
problems. Similarly, many people perceive public health primarily as the
activities ascribed to governmental public health agencies. A final image of
public health is that of the intended results of these endeavors. In this image,
public health is literally the health of the public, as measured in terms of
health and illness in a population.

Public Health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life
and promoting physical and mental health and efficiency through organized
community efforts for:

- Sanitation of the Environment

- Control of Communicable Infections

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 - Education of the Individual in Personal Hygiene
- Organization of Medical and Nursing Services for Early Diagnosis and
Preventive Treatment of Disease
- Development of Social Machinery to Insure Everyone a Standard of
Living Adequate for the Maintenance of Health

Public Health is
the science of
protecting and
improving the health
of people and their
communities and is
achieved by
promoting healthy
lifestyles, researching
disease and injury
prevention, and
detecting, preventing
and responding to
infectious diseases. Figure 1. Foundations for Local Public Health Practice
(Courtesy of https://www.nephtc.org/enrol/inde x.php?id=35)

Figure 1 show the foundations for local health practice wherein these
areas are of major concerns in the field of Public Health Engineering and are
the areas where the knowledge, skills and expertise Sanitary
Engineers/Environmental Engineers will be needed.

In general, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire

populations that can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an
entire country or region of the world.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
It is the total relationship of man to his physical, biological, socio-
economic and socio-cultural environment as it affects human well-being.

Characteristics of health that result from the aggregate impact of both

natural and man-made surroundings, including health effects of air pollution,
water pollution, noise pollution, solid waste disposal, and housing; occupational
disease and injuries; and those diseases related to unsanitary surroundings.

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ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION
It is the science dealing with the prevention and control of diseases by
eliminating or controlling the environmental factors which may form links in
disease transmission

It is the control of all factors in man’s physical environment that have

significant effect on man’s physical development, health and survival.

PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEERING

It deals essentially with the control of the environment, with those
modifications and protective and preventive measures that have been found
desirable or necessary for providing optimum conditions for health and well-
being.

PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEY

The analysis of the prevailing conditions, actual and potential, in an area
and the forces producing those conditions which exists or may exert a
favorable influence on the health of the inhabitants

PUBLIC HEALTH WORKS

These includes control of communicable diseases by means of
immunization, isolation, etc; maternity, infant, and preschool hygiene; school
hygiene; control of the venereal diseases; mental health work; control of
tuberculosis; environmental sanitation and recording of vital statistics. An outline
of the field of public health work is as follow:

Water Supply
Wastes
 Excreta Disposal, without water carriage
 Sewerage
 Collection and Disposal of Solid Wastes
Insect Control
 Mosquito
 Flies
 Others
Rodent Control
Food Sanitation
 Milk
 Meat
 Other Foods
 Food processing and food handling establishments
Plumbing

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 Prevention of atmospheric pollution
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Lighting
Housing
Institutional Sanitation
Occupational Health work
Sanitation of swimming pools and bathing places
Eradication of Nuisances
Radiological Protection
Accident Prevention

SANITATION
It is the hygiene and proper management, collection, disposal or reuse of
human excreta and community liquid wastes, to safeguard the health of
individuals and communities.

Figure 2. Sanitation for All

Photo: Clean Future

Sanitation aims to improve

health conditions, promote dignity of
living or enhanced quality of life
and to protect the environment.

Figure 3 shows how is water

being contaminated when there is a
poor sanitation in a community.
Human feces, animal manure,
household activities, agricultural
Figure 3. How are water becomes contaminated
(Courtesy of h ttps://e hp.niehs. nih.gov/doi/full/10. 1289/ehp. 123-A6)

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activities and others may contribute in polluting water bodies thus resulting to
possible health and safety concerns.

Sanitation is practiced by the Sanitary Inspector, the Sanitarian and the

Sanitary Engineer or Environmental Engineer.

Figure 4. Ecologically Sustainable Sanitation

(Courtesy of https://www.ecologic.eu/4699)

Figure 4 shows an ecologically sustainable environment wherein different

technologies are being implemented and being applied. This includes wastewater
treatment and reuse, rainwater harvesting and other sustainable technologies.

SANITARY INSPECTOR
Makes inspections as a means of enforcing sanitary regulation works
under the supervision of a sanitarians or sanitary engineers

SANITARIAN
A person who has formal training in the fundamental science that applies
to sanitation, bacteriological, chemistry, biology and vital statistics.

He should be able to translate the sanitary needs of the community with

terms of sanitary regulation and procedures and they supervise inspectors

SANITARY OR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER

A person duly registered with the Board of Examiner for Sanitary
Engineers (RA 1364) and who heads the sanitation division or section or unit of
the Provincial/City/Municipal Health Office or employed with the DOH or its
regional field office units

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 One who places greater emphasis on the design, construction, and
preparation of structures leading to public health.
She/he must apply the principles of Sanitary Engineering to some
activities as air, water, insect control measures, waste disposal and the planning
of community improvement involving houses.

SANITARY PERMIT
The certification in writing of the City or Municipal Health Officer or
Sanitary Engineer that the establishment complies with the existing minimum
sanitation requirements upon evaluation or inspection conducted in accordance
with Presidential Decree No. 522 and Presidential Decree No. 856 and local
ordinances.

Shown in the following figures are examples of Sanitary Permit to Operate

issued to different establishment by the City Health Office of any Local
Government Unit.

Figure 4. Sample Sanitary Permit to Operate

(Courtesy of https://www.)

END OF MODULE TEST

1. Differentiate Health, Public Health and Environmental Health.

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2. How does Public Health Engineering be applied to the area of Control of
Communicable Diseases?
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3. What are the concerns being experienced in your community in relation to
public health and sanitation? Discuss briefly and provide possible solution as
BS Sanitary Engineering student.
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4. What is/are the purpose/s of the issuance of Sanitary Permit to Operate to
different establishment and to the general public?
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References

Ehlers, V. M., & Steel, E. W. Municipal and Rural Sanitation. In V. M. Ehlers, & E. W. Steel, Municipal and
Rural Sanitation.
Turnock, B. J. (2015). Public Health What It Is and How It Works, Sixth Edition. In B. J. Turnock, Public
Health What It Is and How It Works.

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