ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH-CAREER INFORMATION SUMMARY
Scroll to the bottom for a list of institutions that offer Environmental Health
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND WHO IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER/PRACTITIONER?
Environmental health is about understanding the interactions of environmental factors with biological systems. Environmental health can be defined as the interconnections between people and their environment by which human health and a balanced, non-polluted environment are sustained or degraded. Environmental health is focused on the natural and built environments for the benefit of human health.
It can also be defined as a science of human injury and illness prevention as well as well-being advancement. This involves identifying and analyzing environments and hazardous agents while limiting exposures to other hazardous physical, chemical, and biological agents in elements that may affect health.
People who have studied environmental health in Zambia are commonly known as Environmental health officers (EHOs) but in other instances they are referred to as Environmental health practitioners or simply health inspectors and they have a duty to make sure that people's surroundings are safe, healthy and hygienic.
WHERE DO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS/PRACTITIONER WORK?
Environmental health professionals are usually employed by the government to advice on and enforce public health standards. However, many are employed in the private sector, the military and other third sector agencies such as charities and NGOs. Mining companies monitor environmental health, local councils monitor environmental health and the ministry of health also monitor environmental health.
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
Environmental health officers are responsible for monitoring and enforcing health and hygiene legislation. They also investigate when there's an incident, such as pollution, a noise problem, toxic contamination, pest infestation or an outbreak of food poisoning. Monitors and improves public/environmental health standards. Environmental health practitioners play an important role in private industry and in the state sector in ensuring that proper standards are achieved. They do this through advice, education, monitoring and regulation.
Environmental health officers are responsible for monitoring and enforcing standards of environmental and public health, including food hygiene, safety at work, housing and noise and pollution control, preventing environmental health conditions injurious to health and promoting good environmental practices. They are most of the times in the community where they inspect premises, collect evidence from incidents and provide advice.
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER?
The work schedule for EHOs dependent on the organisation, terms of contract as well the work at hand, most EHOs have work schedule ranging from 08hrs to 17hrs from Monday to Friday. Most of their work are done in the field and are very much prone to long working hours as it has been seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
Environmental health is one of the most marketable health professionals in Zambia. The government is the major employer of EHOs but they can also work in industries for large manufacturers, wok for occupational health and health consultancies. EHOs can also work for health related Non-Governmental Organisations such as CHAZ as well as in colleges and universities as lecturers.
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
Being an Environmental health officer does not only require the love for science but also, to a great extent, the love for the people’s wellbeing. It is also important to note that an EHO may not be liked by everyone as he/she is also involved in the enforcement of the law through health public inspections. It from this understanding that an EHO should be able to work long hours in the field, able to work as part of the team, able to explain legislation and procedures to people from all backgrounds, and also able to analyze and solve problems.
Scroll to the bottom for a list of institutions that offer Environmental Health
WHAT SUBJECTS WILL THE PROGRAM COVER?
The combination of courses is different from various institutions but have a lot in common, from the University Of Zambia you will learn the A level sciences such as biology and chemistry as well as mathematics in the first year and eventually move to more specific courses in the second year such as ecological systems, food and science nutrition, human anatomy and physiology, principals of environmental health. From other institutions you will also learn writing or communication skills in the first year.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
It is very important to note that the entry requirements are very much dependent on the institution of interest as well as whether your application is for a diploma or degree program. In Zambia, diploma programs attract relatively higher points as compared to the degree ones. Also institutions such as the University Of Zambia and Copperbelt Universities has lower cut-off points than other universities for the same program which is mostly attributed to the number of applicants they get in a particular academic year. On average you need to have 12 points or less in five subjects including Mathematics, Science, and English with two other subjects for a degree and 18 or less for a diploma.
WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS OF STUDY CAN MAKE SOMEONE AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER?
Unlike other fields in Health Sciences, the path to being an Environmental Health Officer is not only restricted to Environmental Health. You can become an Environmental Health Officer also through the study in Environmental Science and Public Health. There are as well as other social science courses such as the Bachelor of Education in Environmental Education (B.ED.EE) from the University of Zambia, under the school of education that can lead you to becoming an Environmental Health Officer.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE ADVANCED QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE AND WHY?
Environmental Health can be pursued from as low as a college diploma and be seen all the way through to a bachelors degree, masters and let alone a PhD in environmental health. Considering the relationship between Environmental Health and Public Health, you can also advance to masters in Public Health. The masters degree will broaden your chances of getting a job from institutions where a diploma or degree would not get you as it will also help you compete at a global level in as far as job opportunities are concerned. The advancement will further increase the level of salary and benefits that you will be able to attract as it will sharpen your understanding as well as your general skill in the field of study. When you pursue a masters in a different but similar program such as Public Health and Environmental Science, it can help you expand your field of specialty and hence broaden your chances of working with various institutions.
INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFER ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH
UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time only
Admitting school: School of Natural Sciences
Intakes: January (only)
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +26 0211 252641
E-mail: dean-medicine@unza.zm
Website: www.unza.zm/academics/undergraduate/bachelor-of-science-environmental-health
COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Intakes: January (only)
Location: Kitwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 212 290816 / +260 212 290815
Email: academicoffice@cbu.ac.zm
Website: www.cbu.ac.zm/fees
LEVY MWANAWASA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree) / 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time and distance learning
Admitting school: School of Public Health and Environmental Sciences
Intakes: January (only)
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 974 330519 / +260 953 821693
Email: info@lmmu.ac.zm
Website: www.lmmu.ac.zm/levy-mwanawasa-medical-university-fees-structure
LUSAKA APEX MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: Faculty of Pre-Medical Sciences
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Email: happy.mtonga@lamu.edu.zm
Tel: +260 979 927901 / +260 974 137203
Website: www.lamu.edu.zm/academic-fees
RUSANGU UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Health Sciences
Intakes: January and July
Location: Monze
Contacts
Email: info@ru.edu.zm
Tel: +260 977 929260 / +260 963 467421
Website: www.ru.edu.zm.dedi542.jnb1.host-h.net/downloads/
EDEN UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Health Sciences
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Email: edenuniversty@edenuniversity.net
Tel: +260 978 800898 / +260 977 794995
Website: www.edenuniversity.edu.zm/course-fee-structure.html
EVELYN HONE COLLEGE
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Health and Applied Sciences
Intakes: January (only)
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 227752 / +260 211 220208
Email: lungu.john@evelynhone.edu.zm
Website: www.evelynhone.edu.zm/academic-fees/
KAFUE INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND RESEARCH
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Intakes: January and July
Location: Kafue
Contacts
Email: kafueihs@gmail.com
Tel: +260 971 908366
Website: www.kihser.com
UNITED CHURCH OF ZAMBIA UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree) / 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time and distance learning
Admitting School: Health Sciences
Intakes: January and July
Location: Kitwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 212 211029
Website: www.uczuniversity.org
NKANA COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time only
Intakes: January and July
Location: Kitwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 977 447390/ 0961 868690/ 0979 830165/ 0979 588189/ 0977 872947
Email: ncase.enquiries@gmail.com
Facebook: Nkana College of Applied Sciences and Education
ZAMBIA INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time only
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 966 287198 / +260 968926420 / +260 963 567274
Email: admissions@zimpsonline.com
Facebook: Zambia Institute for Medical and Psychological Studies