MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The Manchester Health Services has placed particular focus on public health inspectors among its activities for the recognition during the Health Month of June.

The health inspectors used the opportunity to stage an exposition with the aim of giving greater insight into the work that they do.

Charmaine Palmer-Cross, chief public health Inspector for the parish, said that the event held last Wednesday is the first within the Southern Regional Health Authority, which has oversight responsibility for public health care facilities in Manchester, St Elizabeth and Clarendon, and possibly the first of its kind in Jamaica.

In an overview which Palmer-Cross presented jointly with medical officer of health in Manchester, Dr Nadine Williams, the audience at the opening ceremony learnt that the duties of the public health inspectors were wide ranging.

They include food safety through the assessments of supermarkets, restaurants and community shops; veterinary public health through visits to facilities such as slaughter houses; monitoring of drinking water sources; having an input when building plans are submitted to the Manchester Municipal Corporation for approval; ensuring suitable sanitary facilities in communities; vector control; monitoring of schools, prisons/lock-ups, day care and health facilities; engaging in port health and quarantine through the monitoring of international travellers to Manchester and the monitoring of facilities in the parish which accommodate tourists.

The day’s event was conducted under the theme “Public Health Inspectors Safeguarding Your Health and” offered informative as well as entertaining elements.

Christiana Leased Primary School walked away the winner of the first public health poster competition. Villa Road Primary and Albion Primary took second and third place respectively.

Here are photo highlights from the event.