m-ritoring at Ebeye may require additional manpower beyond the 2 that are needed
now.
Some lab equipment and supplies would be needed to perform the total
coliform test.
Also there needs to be a plan and trained personnel for routine
cleaning and preventive maintenance of public water system cisterns,
- tanks or reservoirs and pumps (possible U.S.
storage
Environmental Protection Agency
funding for this program).
Even though the water supply and wastewater systems in the urban centers of
Majuro
and
Ebeye
have
inadequacies
and
many
problems,
many
reports
considerable funding have been or are being directed to these systems.
and
However,
in many of the outer islands the problems are just as great (see Table 6) but
little attention has been directed to them in terms of comprehensive studies and
funding.
A complete potable sanitary survey with bacteriological testing should
be done on
all
the outer
islands.
Along with this survey and testing,
an
evaluation and report of the needs for upgrading toilet facilities to a minimum
of one water seal pit privy per houshold (or dwelling unit) should be done except
where low densities may make the traditional beach use adequate.
Currently the
Environmetal Health Division has a program for upgrading the toilet facilities in
the outer islands but due to higher priorities, and pressures from the central
urban areas, little progress is being made.
_
It is recommended that current Environmental Health staff and potential new
recruits
be
identified
to
obtain
professional
training
certification issued by the Fiji Health Inspector Program.
equivalent
to
Funding for this
training could be made available through World Health Organization Fellowships,
legislative appropriations, regular educational scholarships and through funds
designated for this purpose by this health plan.
There is also a need for improved coordination with the primary care workers
(medex and health assistants) in the outer islands to aid in sanitation programs
and education.
To at least partly effect this it is recommended that short
training courses in rural environmental health be provided for the outer island
health workers.
It has been noted that many of the schools do not have basic environmental
hygiene facilities,
toilets.
such as water
for
handwashing
and minimally acceptable
Since the incidence of parasitic and infectious diseases can only be
prevented by methods which interrupt the fecal-oral route of transmission, and
since students cannot be taught or practice these important methods when the
school lacks the basic facilities, it is recommended that on-site documentation
12