Environmental Health

Objectives

  1. To promote and foster professional status, skill, recognition, and efficiency of the members in the letter and spirit of the Sanitarians Registration Act.
  2. To conduct meetings for the discussion and study of problems in the field of environmental health.
  3. To provide and act as a clearinghouse among the members for the receipt, exchange, and dissemination of information on sanitarian progress, policies, interpretations, and procedures.
  4. To constantly foster and promote better and more uniform environmental health standards.
  5. To cooperate with the public health agencies and all other organizations and groups that are interested in better health and sanitation.
  6. To develop closer cooperation with the Sanitary Engineering Section, Division of Health Services, Department of Human Resources, in education, inspection, enforcement, and engineering work.
  7. To promote congenial and harmonious social and professional relationships within the memberships of the Environmental Health Section.
  8. To encourage active participation by the members in local and state civic betterment.
  9. To assist in every legitimate way in furthering the interests of the members.
  10. To work for a just compensation for services rendered, for adequate retirement benefits, and improved working conditions.
Environmental Health

History

The Environmental Health Section of the North Carolina Public Health Association, Inc. (formerly The Sanitation Section from 1939 until 1969) had its origin in the old Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1939. At that time, Mr. J. M. Jarrett, Assistant to the Director of the Division of Local Health Work, State Board of Health, proposed a change to the NCPHA constitution, whereby all members of the health units would be eligible for membership within their own designated Scientific Section.

Mr. Jarrett selected an organizational committee of sanitarians from all over the state and called a meeting in Greensboro, at which time preliminary plans were laid and the groundwork begun for our present Section.

In 1940, the NCPHA meeting at Pinehurst provided for the creation of Scientific Sections and revised its constitution accordingly. Thus the Section was born. The first official meeting was during the NCPHA meeting in 1941 at Pinehurst. Subjects included a symposium on “Garbage and Refuse Disposal” and a panel discussion on “The Sanitation of Eating Utensils and Glassware.”

Other milestones and significant achievements through the years include:

  • the drafting and subsequent amendments to a near model constitution and by-laws;
  • the selection of a sanitarian, Harold Parker, in 1951 as the first non-medical President of the NCPHA;
  • the adoption of a distinctive seal and emblem, which was designed by J. L. Higgins;
  • the acceptance of a unique Code of Ethics pointing toward the quarterly series of educational meetings designed to promote better sanitation knowledge and techniques;
  • the creation of five component district organizations within the framework of the Section, each with individual leadership and constitution;
  • and the conferring of honorary membership status and deserved recognition on prominent persons outside of public health for outstanding contributions to the field of Sanitation.

The Environmental Health Section of the North Carolina Public Health Association is composed not merely of outstanding leaders, but is firmly anchored in the team concept of all for one and one for all.

Downloadable Documents