The Next 100 Years: Reaching New Heights in Health Protection, September 22-26

Certified Public Health Inspectors dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of Canadians

HALIFAX, Sept. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Celebrated for the past 11 years, Environmental Public Health Week recognizes the important work that Certified Public Health Inspectors across Canada carry out in our communities. The week is also an opportunity to improve awareness of our profession within the public health family and amongst the general public.  

This year's theme is "The Next 100 Years: Reaching new heights in health protection," which acknowledges and recognizes that health is influenced by many factors outside the health care system. The commitment and leadership in activities that address the broad determinants of health has never been stronger.

Within the Canadian spectrum of health care, Certified Public Health Inspectors are an integral and important component. Public health advances such as safer and healthier foods, control of infectious diseases, healthier environments and the recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard have contributed significantly to Canadians living longer.

Certified Public Health Inspectors, also known as Environmental Health Officers, are primarily employed by federal, provincial and local governments, First Nation Tribal Councils and also within the private sector.  Experts in their fields, Certified Public Health Inspectors are involved in the inspection, enforcement and education of a wide range of programs and services, including but not limited to:  food premises, recreational water, healthcare and childcare facilities, personal service settings, drinking water systems, land use, sewage systems, air quality, radon, schools and the implementation of disease and health hazard controls.

On September 26^th, Certified Public Health Inspectors across Canada will join their colleagues from around the globe to celebrate World Environmental Health Day.  The event will focus on addressing environmental health inequalities and several events are planned across the globe. For more information on World Environmental Health Day please visit http://www.ifeh.org/wehd/index.html

For further information on Environmental Public Health Week, please visit www.ciphi.ca or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/CIPHI.ICISP and Twitter at #ephw2014.

Quote

"Every day, Certified Public Health Inspectors across the country apply their knowledge in hundreds of thousands of interventions to protect and promote health. These duties are often unseen and as I have often heard it said: if public health is doing its job right, nobody will ever know we were there."
Gary O'Toole, National President, Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors

Quick Facts

• There are over 1,600 members registered with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.
• Candidates must hold a degree in a program of instruction approved by the Board of Certification. There are six (6) institutions which are currently approved:
  • British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, BC
  • Cape Breton University, Sydney, NS
  • Concordia University College of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
  • First Nations University of Canada, Regina, SK
  • Ryerson University, Toronto, ON
  • Sault College and Lake Superior State University (First International School of Public and Environmental Health)

About CIPHI

Established in 1913, the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) is the leading governing body for certified public health inspectors across Canada. The Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) is the only professional association for public health professionals who hold the CPHI(C) credential in Canada (incorporated 1934). CIPHI's mandate is to advance the profession, science, and field of environmental public health through certification, advocacy, education and professional competencies. CIPHI, like no other organization, covers a continuum of public health areas, including food safety, safe water, on-site wastewater disposal, indoor air quality, infectious diseases prevention and control, epidemiology, tobacco reduction, and many more environmental health initiatives. CIPHI's mission is to protect the health of Canadians and to represent all Certified Public Health Inspectors across Canada.

Image with caption: "Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CNW Group/Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140922_C1513_PHOTO_EN_5840.jpg

SOURCE: Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors

Media Contacts: English: Gary O'Toole, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Français : Stéfane Gravelle, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]