Food Safety, Hygiene & Environmental Protection Team
The Food Safety, Hygiene & Environmental Protection Team is a vital unit under the Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Directorate. We are dedicated to safeguarding public health by ensuring safe food supplies, promoting adequate sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and protecting the environment from health hazards across Dire Dawa.
Our Mandate
Our mandate is to prevent environment-related diseases and public health risks through rigorous inspection, regulation, and community education. We enforce public health laws across food establishments, water sources, and public facilities, while empowering citizens with the knowledge to maintain safe hygiene practices in their daily lives.
Strategic Objectives
- Ensure all food produced, imported, distributed, and sold in Dire Dawa meets national safety standards.
- Prevent foodborne illnesses through regular inspections of abattoirs, restaurants, and food markets.
- Promote universal access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities (WASH).
- Control environmental pollution, including improper solid and liquid waste management.
- License and regulate public health facilities, including hotels, barbershops, and beauty salons.
Key Programs & Services
To achieve our mandate, the team focuses on several critical areas of environmental health:
Food Safety & Quality Control
Conducts routine and unannounced inspections of food handling facilities. We oversee meat inspections at abattoirs, monitor food labeling, and ensure proper food storage and handling to prevent contamination and food poisoning.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
Monitors the quality of drinking water sources to prevent waterborne diseases. We also promote community-led total sanitation (CLTS) initiatives to eliminate open defecation and improve household hygiene practices.
Environmental Pollution Control
Regulates the disposal of solid and liquid waste, including hazardous healthcare waste. We monitor industrial emissions and work to mitigate environmental health risks associated with urbanization.
Public Health Licensing & Inspection
Issues operating licenses to public facilities such as restaurants, hotels, and barber shops. This ensures compliance with hygiene protocols, proper waste disposal, and the prevention of communicable diseases in public spaces.
Team Leadership
Mr. Daniel Tesfaye
Mr. Daniel Tesfaye is a seasoned Environmental Health Professional with over 12 years of experience in public health inspection and regulatory compliance. He has played a key role in upgrading regional abattoir standards and leading city-wide sanitation campaigns.
Holding a Master's degree in Environmental Health Science, Mr. Daniel is a strict enforcer of health codes but also a strong advocate for community education, believing that compliance is best achieved through understanding.
"A healthy environment is the foundation of a healthy community. Clean water, safe food, and proper sanitation are not just regulatory requirements; they are fundamental human rights."