Professionals cry foul

Some 6 000 officials needed instead of the current 1 712.

- Thando Nondywana

If there were more environment health practitioners employed to service the country's population of over 64 million, the outbreak of foodborne illnesses could have been avoided.

More than 20 children recently died while scores were hospitalized due to foodborne illnesses.

The (health) sector argues that sufficient numbers of practitioners to conduct continuous monitoring, evaluation and prevention could have prevented the spate.

While authorities maintain there is a shortage, Sihle Gwiliza, deputy president of an advocacy group tracking and compiling information on unemployed inspectors, said there was no shortage but lack of will from authorities.

"The list stands at 500 unemployed environmental health practitioners. We believe the number is well into thousands of graduates currently unemployed.

"This is concerning because those who are employed are overwhelmed. They cannot effectively manage due to being assigned to large populations," he said.

There are 1,712 environment health practitioners (EHP) employed, despite about 6,000 being registered with the Health Professionals Council of SA (HPCSA).