History
The first association for Health Inspectors, or rather Sanitary Inspectors as they were known prior to 1957, was set up in 1935 under the name Sanitary Inspectors Association. Following the change in the nomenclature of Sanitary Inspectors in 1957, the name of the Association was changed to the Society of Health Inspectors. The aim of the Association was then to disseminate knowledge on public health matters and it also carried out the duties of a union in order to safeguard the rights of its members. It was also affiliated with the Association of Health Inspectors of the United Kingdom. A person who served as president during the fifties and early sixties was the late Anthony Callus. Another Health Inspector Mr. George Busuttil, who some of us remember him as a Principal at the Occupational Health and Safety Unit at Msida was the secretary of the Association between the late fifties till the early seventies.
Besides social activities, the Society used to hold seminars on weekends at various hotels and was also responsible for the establishment of the local representation of Royal Society of Health in Malta. In fact new Health Inspectors used to be given a diploma from the above-mentioned Society. It was also responsible for the establishment of payment for on call duties, allowances for clothing and for tutoring of student Health Inspectors. It also recommended the establishment of a ‘Health Branch Joint Committee.’ This committee had as its members, the assistant Chief Government Medical Officer, three members from the medical profession and three members from the Society. A clerk from the civil service carried out the duties of secretary. The committee met on a monthly basis and served to iron out differences between the Inspectorate and Government. Copies of the minutes were forwarded to the Minister of Health of the day.
Unfortunately, the Society become increasingly fragmented during the early nineteen seventies, and the Inspectorate lost a society, which had served to increase the esteem of the Inspectorate as well as to protect its interests.
The Association was reactivated in 2003 during a meeting at the boardroom of the Msida Local Council.
Logo
The Malta Association of Environmental Health Officer’s logo is a focus of the total professional service and care for which the Health Inspectorate is professionally distinguished. The logo is made from straight lined pointed arrowheads, meeting at their points, with the ends of the arms consisting of indented 'v's above which stand an oval. The arrowheads and the ovals above are coloured in yellow, green and blue respectively while they are outlined in red together with the name ‘MAEHO’ perceptively. The straight lined pointed arrowheads represent the Maltese Cross which is a much cherished symbol of the Maltese people. The cross is part of the Malta's heritage and culture. The Environmental Health Officers has been a fundamental element of society throughout the years. The ovals represent the Public which the Environmental Health Officers has served and self guarded throughout history and years to come. Air, land and water are the areas in which the Environmental Health Officers strive to maintain good health, each area is represented by the colours yellow, green and blue respectively. ‘MAEHO’ is perceptively designed to link all areas together and to give a life line between the three areas hence decorated in red which stretches over the outlines of the Maltese Cross.
Code of Practice
Health Inspectorate
The Health Inspectorate forms part of the Department of Public Health within the Health Division of the Ministry of Health. Health Inspectors are responsible to safeguard and protect human health. This is carried out by:
1. Ensuring that food produced, distributed, marketed and consumed by humans meets the highest possible standards of food safety and hygiene. This is done under the direction of the Food Safety Commission in collaboration with the other key players in the official control of foodstuffs in Malta as laid down by the Food Safety Act, 2002. (Act XIV of 2002; Chapter 449).
2. Carrying out environmental health policies emanating from the Public Health Act, 2003. (Act XIII of 2003; Chapter 465).
3. Participating in ‘health protection issues’ as may be directed from time to time by the Director General (Health) through the Director Public Health and the Manager Health Inspector.
The above may be supplemented by the formulation of guidelines to assist the Health Inspectorate in the execution of its duties.
The main services offered by the Health Inspectorate are governed by a Quality Service Charter, that came into being in October 2001
Our Services
The several units within the Health Inspectorate services are committed to:
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Investigate Public Health issues
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Reduce the incidence of communicable diseases and health hazards
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Monitor the wholesomeness of food products
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Monitor the quality of drinking and recreational water
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Monitor institutions
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Ensure rodent control
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Control the importation and exportation of foodstuffs
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Supervise the proper interment and repatriation of human remains
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Issue drug control cards with respect to narcotic and psychotropic drugs
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Make recommendations to licensing authorities and issue of licenses pertaining to the Superintendent of Public Health
This code of practice covers the way that Health Inspectors relate to other staff members within their department and other government entities and the public in general that they are serving.
It applies to inspections, monitoring, supervising and other activities as listed above.
All Health Inspectors should:
Treat staff and the public they are serving fairly, regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, gender, marital status, disability or sexual orientation;
Conduct themselves with integrity, impartiality, honesty and without bias or misadministration;
Declare if they have any personal interest in any food business;
Take all reasonable steps to avoid circumstances, which may imply bias or the appearance of bias;
Carry out their activities so that these cause the minimum disruption to the establishment, organisation or general public;
Respect the confidentiality of information obtained subject to any statutory disclosure requirements;
Look for ways to continually improve and develop the way in which they undertake their activities;
Must be clear about their judgements and be able to demonstrate a clear audit trail of how they reach their decisions and evidence on which they are based;
Report their findings without fear and favour;
Seek out and spread examples of good practice.
Executive Committee
President |
Rachel Mercieca |
Vice President |
Aaron Simpason |
Secretary |
Hadrian Bonello |
Treasurer |
Dolerita Mifsud |
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Paul J. Micallef |
Educational Activities |
Mario Camilleri |
Ass. Educational Activities |
Antoinette Vella |
Website and Magazine |
Alistair Lowell |
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