Mr. Alliestar Moabi, Divisional Environmental Health Practitioner: Mangaung Metro Municipality

The Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences hosted a four-day hybrid Continuous Professional Development (CPD) workshop from 26-29 September 2023, under the theme ‘Current Trends and Best Practices in Environmental Health’.

The main objective is to empower and encourage Environmental Health Practitioners to foster collaboration among colleagues in the specialised fields of Environmental Health.

The primary aim is to provide a platform for professionals to share their wealth of experiences, and collectively develop ingenious solutions to the multifaceted challenges facing public health today. By offering a diverse range of interactive sessions, the workshop further aims to equip participants with a holistic understanding of the fundamental principles governing Environmental Health interventions and management.

Through a combination of interactive sessions, participants are envisioned to gain a comprehensive understanding of the key principles in Environmental Health interventions and management, also, have a clear roadmap for launching public health interventions and skills and confidence to monitor progress sustainability.

One of the notable highlights of the event was a captivating presentation by Mr. Alliestar Moabi, Divisional Environmental Health Practitioner from the Mangaung Metro Municipality. Moabi delved into the standard operating procedures governing the dignified handling of unidentified human remains stored at the Free State Forensic Pathology Services facility in Bloemfontein. His presentation was particularly focused on elucidating the meticulous process involved in either burying or cremating unidentified bodies within the Mangaung Metro jurisdiction.

He mentioned that only unclaimed bodies are entrusted to the municipality for burial, and each body is laid to rest with the utmost dignity and respect. He emphasized that, as per legal regulations, bodies left unclaimed by families for a period exceeding 30 days following a public notification, are eligible for what is known as a ‘pauper's funeral’ under South Africa's Pauper Burial Policy.  He added that the municipality assumes the responsibility for the cost of interment at a cemetery determined by the relevant authority.

The workshop exemplifies the commitment of the faculty to advancing knowledge, enhancing collaboration, and driving positive change in the field of Environmental Health.