'Govt ready to solve PHIs' problems'

The Government is ready to solve the problems facing Public Health Inspectors who perform a selfless public service and to motivate and encourage them, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

He said this at a meeting to mark the Public Health Association's 78th Anniversary and the Centenary of the Public Health Service in Sri Lanka, in Colombo.

The Minister was the chief guest at the event.

Sri Lanka's Public Health Service commenced in 1913 and the officers were known as sanitary inspectors.

In 1954, the name was changed to Public Health Inspectors and they were trained by the Royal Sanitary Institute (now known as the Royal Society for Public Health), London.

Around 1950 PHIs now work islandwide and around 95 percent of them are members of the association. Their main duties include controlling infectious diseases, ensuring food hygiene and safety, healthy environments, health requirements of schools and work places and launching health education programs.

They are also expected to take legal action against those who violate the law in matters relating to health and hygiene.