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The WHO
collaborative programme
ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH
INCLUDING
FOOD
SAFETY
WATER
SUPPLY
AND
SANITATION
Situation
analysis
The
water
supply
and
sanitation
program
covers
water
supply
and
sanitation
management
(
including
wastewater
reuse)
as
well
as
recreational
waters
(beaches
and
swimming
pools).
Pipe
water
supplies
in
Jordan
reach
over
90%
of
urban
population.
Population
with
no
access
to
pipewater
obtain
their
water
from
tankers
and
wells.
Appropriate
excreta
disposal
facilities
are
almost
universally
available
to
Jordanian
households,
both
in
rural
and
urban
areas.
Urban
areas
are
served
with
wastewater
collection
systems.
Wastewater
is
widely
used
in
agriculture
(about
70
million
cubic
meters
/
year).
Severe
water
shortages
cause
serious
interruption
to
public
water
supplies
which
are
intermittent
with
serious
drinking
water
quality
concerns.
Pollution
of
ground
water
is
caused
by
inappropriate
wastewater
management,
excessive
use
of
agrochemicals,
and
industrial
water
pollution
present
a
threat
to
public
water
supplies.
Water
quality
monitoring
and
control
activities
by
the
Ministry
of
Health
and
the
Water
Authority
of
Jordan
have
improved
both
in
coverage
and
effectiveness.
Yet,
the
extent
of
coverage
and
effectiveness
of
these
activities
in
predicting
and
detecting
water
quality
deterioration
needs
a
proper
assessment.
Main
achievements:
- National drinking water and mineral water standards were revised in 2001 .
- New National bottled water standards were issued in 2001 .
- National wastewater quality standards are being revised (2001)
- Water quality monitoring is insured by various agencies.
Main
constraints
- Water shortages, leaking from public water supplies systems, and intermittent supplies of water are of concern in relation to the safety and security of water supplies;
- Pollution of water resources is a concern in both water quality and quantity.
Objectives
To
insure
that
all
people
are
provided
with
access
to
safe
water
supply
and
proper
sanitation
facilities
aiming
at
controlling
water-related
diseases
and
promoting
the
health
of
the
public,
through
strengthening
the
capabilities
of
MOH
in
water
quality
monitoring.
Proposed
activities
- Training of MOH staff through local training and abroad visits.
- Provision of necessary supplies and equipments.
- Conducting relevant studies.
Indicators
- Access to safe and reliable water supplies
- Access to adequate wastewater management services
- Guidelines for quality surveillance and control of intermittent water supplies
CHEMICAL
SAFETY
Situation
analysis
Different
government
agencies
are
responsible
for
different
aspects
of
chemical
safety.
In
some
areas
responsibilities
for
certain
functions
are
clear,
where
in
others
there
is
an
overlap
of
responsibilities
or a
lack
of
clarity
as
who
is
responsible.
Legislation
or
regulatory
processes
do
not
address
certain
aspects
of
chemical
safety.
MOH
took
its
leading
role
in
protecting
human
health
and
the
environment,
through
establishing
a
chemical
information
center
in
1994,
which
was
developed
to
chemical
safety
division
recently.
The
ultimate
goal
is
to
establish
an
environmentally
sound
system
for
chemicals,
in
terms
of
import,
transport,
storage,
usage
and
disposal.
The
division
controls
the
import
of
chemicals
to
Jordan
in
cooperation
with
customs.
In
this
regard
two
lists
for
banned
and
restricted
chemicals
were
adopted
by
MOH.
Further
more
the
division
provides
information
concerning
chemicals
to
other
agencies
and
ministries,
recording
the
chemical
poisoning
cases
and
working
on
collecting
and
preparing
a
list
for
chemicals
used
in
Jordan.
The
Environmental
Health
Directorate/
chemical
safety
division,
since
it
is
the
DNA
for
chemicals
conducts
clearance
of
imported
chemicals
by
the
PIC
procedure.
In
addition
the
staff
at
the
division
is
working
on
translating
international
chemical
safety
cards
into
Arabic
to
be
provided
to
importers
and
end
users
of
chemicals.
Main
achievements
With
the
assistance
of
WHO,
a
program
for
the
promotion
of
chemical
safety
was
established
in
1996.
Since
that
a
number
of
projects
and
activities
had
been
prepared
and
implemented:
- National profile for chemical safety was prepared and on going committee from all relevant institutions is working now on enhancing and enforcing some recommendations regarding the import, storage and transport of chemicals.
- National Register for chemicals.
- A National Strategy/ draft for management of chemicals was prepared with the assistance of WHO consultant and a seminar will take place in Nov. to adopt and approve this strategy by all concerned institutions.
Objectives
- To strengthen national capabilities and capacities for safe management of chemicals; development of national chemical safety programs; strengthening of national environmental health information systems.
- To promote the exchange and proper use of information concerning chemical safety.
- To strengthen capabilities for emergency preparedness in relation to chemical accidents especially toxic.
- To strengthen the infrastructure for safety aspects relating to chemicals - their production, importation, and transportation, storage, use and disposal and risk assessment of chemicals.
Priorities
- Implementation of the National strategy of Chemical Safety.
- Strengthening of medical waste management.
Indicators:
- - Number of professionals trained.
- - A functioning National Information Center for Chemicals.
- - Guidelines on safe handling of chemical in laboratories of schools.
- - Professionals trained in evaluation of medical waste management.
- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
Situation analysis
The Environmental Health Risk Assessment and Management specific program covers various areas : environmental health impact and risk assessment, environmental pollution and control, air quality, noise pollution, solidwaste and hazardous wastes-including health care waste management.
- Development projects are scrutinized for their environmental and health impact. In parallel with development of the WHO Regional guidelines for environmental health impact assessment, national related guidelines need to be prepared to supplement any environmental impact assessment guidelines in use in the country.
- Industrial pollution control programs have been started, but still need to be improved.
HCWM
systems
within
healthcare
establishments
(particularly
in
government
owned
hospitals)
could
not
achieve
the
required
standards
unless
there
is
an
intensive
training
and
awareness
raising
activities
on
the
safte
handling,
storage,
collection,
transportation
on
site
treatment
and
disposal.
therefore,
there
is a
need
to
develop
national
guidelines
and
related
training
manual
to
conduct
training
of
trainers
activities.
Training
activities
(for
government
and
non
government
staff)
would
facilitate
the
application
of
the
newly
issued
instructions
(in
2001)
on
healthcare
waste
management
and
facilitate
the
process
of
monitoring
and
control
to
be
made
by
government
officials.
Like
in
many
countries
in
the
region,
the
kingdom
of
Jordan
is
facing
a
challenge
with
respect
to
the
improvement
of
the
existing
HCWM
system
particularly
off
site
transportation
and
off
site
treatment
and
disposal
of
hazardous
healthcare
waste.
A
clear
strategy
and
plan
of
action
for
the
safe
management
of
hazardous
healthcare
waste
is
therefore
needed
to
set
objectives
and
related
immediate,
short
and
long
term
actions.
Main
achievements
-
National
specifications
and
regulations
have
been
established
in
the
following
aspects:
1-
Treated
industrial
wastewater(in
1990).
2-
Ambient
air
quality
(in
1996).
3-
Air
pollutants
emitted
from
stationary
sources
(in
1998).
4-
Noise
pollution
control
(in
1995).
5-
Health
care
waste
management
(in
2001).
6-
Handling
and
management
of
hazardous
materials
(by-law
in
1999).
-
Training
activities,
applied
studies
as
well
as
materials
and
supplies
procurement
have
been
achieved.
Objectives
The
programme
aims
to
improve
the
national
capabilities
in
the
context
of
environmental
health
risk
assessment
and
management
through:
- improving human resources capabilities by internal and external training.
- supplying with necessary supplies and equipments.
- having necessary technical consultancies.
- having necessary scientific tours.
- implementing scientific and applied studies.
- issuing necessary technical regulations.
- improving human resources capabilities through training activities
- setting up immediate, short and long term actions to improve the existing HCWM system in the kingdom.
Priorities
-
Improving
national
capacity
in
medical
waste
management.
Indicators:
- Guidelines on health care waste management
- Number of professionals trained.
FOOD
SAFETY
Situation
analysis
Jordan
imports
large
quantities
of
different
foods,
including
raw
materials.
the
food
control
programme
in
Jordan
is
located
within
the
Ministry
of
Health,
and
the
target
of
the
Food
Safety
Directorate
(FSD)
is
to
reduce
the
morbidity
and
mortality
due
to
food-borne
diseases
through
ensuring
food
safety
and
improving
quality.
The
Ministries
of
Agriculture,
Municipalities
and
the
Jordan
Standards
and
Metrology
Institution
(JISM)
have
specific
roles
in
food
control.
All
institutions
and
their
roles
are
described
in
the
form
of
acts,
regulations
and
codes
of
practice.
New
food
legislation
has
been
passed
in
October
2001.
Achievements
In
the
recent
past,
the
following
activities
have
been
organized:
training
in
several
food
safety
subjects,
such
as
risk
analysis
including
risk
assessment
and
risk
management,
HACCP,
monitoring
of
chemical
contaminants
in
food,
laboratory
techniques
and
quality
assurance,
identification
of
food
additives;
local
training
workshops
in
food
safety
education
for
schools;
capacity
building
of
FSD
staff.
Priority
areas
for
2002-2003:
- Capacity building in risk analysis, chemical and microbiological risk assessment;
- Food borne disease surveillance.
Objectives
for
2002-2003
- To assist the national authorities in the formulation of a national food safety policy, based on a food safety profile, with particular emphasis on strengthening of the multisectoral committee, on the updating of food legislation, the application of the risk analysis framework, the introduction of HACCP in all relevant food establishments, and the improvement of food borne disease surveillance.
- To provide a forum for communication on a regular basis with between Member states and relevant information sources.
Indicators
- Publication of training materials
- Capacity building in the principles of risk analysis, in chemical risk assessment, in microboiological risk assessment; analytical techniques, laboratory quality assurance
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