Environmental Health Eswatini

14/08/2026

What is CLTS?

A transformative approach known as Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS).

Unlike traditional sanitation programs that rely on top-down instructions or external agencies handing out subsidies to build toilets, CLTS flips the script.

It is an innovative, participatory methodology that facilitates a community to appraise and analyze their own sanitation profile—including open defecation practices and the contamination of their immediate environment.

Through dynamic, eye-opening session tools—such as community mapping, transect walks, and fecal-oral transmission pathway analysis—CLTS triggers a collective realization.

It awakens a powerful sense of disgust and shame regarding how human waste inadvertently enters food and water chains, replacing these negative impacts with a powerful, self-motivated drive for collective behavioral change.

The ultimate goal of CLTS is to achieve and sustain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, where every household takes pride in building and utilizing their own safe, hygienic sanitation facilities using local resources.

10/08/2026

Celebrating Dedicated Service: Environmental Health Department Honors Retired Officers Johnboy Nkambule and Simon Mkhwanazi

MALKERNS — On Friday, 8 August 2026, the Environmental Health Department from all regions convened at the scenic Mphophoma in Malkerns for a heartfelt gathering to celebrate the remarkable careers and well-deserved retirements of two esteemed officers, Mr. Johnboy Nkambule and Mr. Simon Mkhwanazi.

The event, which commenced at noon amidst an atmosphere of warmth and high spirits, was filled with joy, music, and laughter from beginning to end. Colleagues and peers gathered to reflect on decades of unwavering commitment, shared challenges, and indelible contributions to public health.

Honoring Decades of Excellence

Both retirees leaves behind a profound legacy of dedication and public service:

* Mr. Johnboy Nkambule began his distinguished career on 1 June 1993 and officially concluded his service on 3 February 2026, dedicating over three decades to safeguarding community health. During the speeches, a colleague notedly remarked that Mr. Nkambule's impact was so monumental that the department still struggles to find a replacement who can match his exceptional standard of work at Mkhuzweni.

* Mr. Simon Mkhwanazi commenced his service on 30 August 1996 and retired on 25 February 2026, marking nearly thirty years of steadfast commitment to advancing the department's core mandate.

A Fitting Tribute

Heartfelt speeches delivered during the celebration painted a picture of two hardworking professionals who consistently went above and beyond to fulfill the department's mission. Their dedication, resilience, and passion for environmental health left a lasting impression on everyone they worked alongside.

The celebration concluded with a delightful spread of food, camaraderie, and the presentation of amazing gifts to the departing officers as a token of appreciation for their lifelong service.

While Mr. Nkambule and Mr. Mkhwanazi embark on this new chapter of well-earned rest, their exemplary footprints within the Environmental Health Department will continue to inspire generations of officers to come.

06/08/2026

Empowering Mfelafutsi: Environmental Health Teams Bring Sanitation and New Skills to the Community

MFELAFUTSI — The Mfelafutsi community recently welcomed a return visit from the Ministry of Health’s Environmental Health team, marking another milestone in an ongoing public health initiative commissioned by the UNICEF Japan project.

Building on previous visits, the field teams continued their vital work implementing the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach to reinforce safe hygiene practices and long-term community health. However, this visit brought an exciting new dimension: economic empowerment and practical self-reliance. Alongside sanitation mobilization, community members were equipped with a brand-new livelihood skill—soap making.

Residents received hands-on instructions on how to formulate liquid soap, including step-by-step demonstrations on accurately measuring and mixing the necessary ingredients.

By combining hygiene education with practical skills training, the initiative ensures that community members not only understand the importance of cleanliness but also have the localized means to produce their own cleaning agents to maintain it.

31/07/2026

Breaking the Cycle: Mfelafutsi Community Embraces CLTS to Step Out of the Dark

MFELAFUTSI, HHOHHO REGION — There was a palpable shift in the air under the winter sun at the Free Evangelical Church grounds in Mfelafutsi.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the usual quiet of this rural community within the Timphisini Inkhundla was replaced by an energetic buzz of collective awakening.

Environmental Health Officers from the Ministry of Health descended in the area, drawing a massive, highly participatory crowd of villagers eager for change.

Looking around the gathering, one stark reality is clear: the people of Mfelafutsi are tired of living in the dark. They are ready to embrace a healthier, more dignified future, and they are profoundly grateful to the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and the Government of Japan for bringing this critical lifeline to their doorstep.

30/07/2026

Collaborative PHAST Workshop: Lomfa and Gasa Chiefdoms

Lomfa and Gasa Chiefdoms in the Shiselweni region have initiated a joint Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST) workshop, running Monday through Friday, to address regional challenges related to unsafe water access and poor sanitation facilities.

Supported logistically by NERCHA, the five-day capacity-building program integrates Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions with HIV/AIDS mitigation strategies, culminating in a dedicated linkage session on day five.

Inter-agency collaboration is further highlighted by the participation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy (Department of Water Affairs).

28/07/2026

Intergrating behaviour change in enviromental health strategies: A scientific Framework

16/07/2026

16/07/2026

The invisible Public Health successes of Enviromental health activities in Food Safety

08/07/2026

🌟 1,000 Followers: Building a Healthier Eswatini Together! 🌟

​To our incredible community,
​Siyabonga kakhulu!

Reaching 1,000 followers is more than just a milestone for this page—it is a massive win for public health awareness across Eswatini.

​Every like, share, and comment does more than just boost a post; it helps spread vital information on hygiene, sanitation, disease prevention, and environmental safety to homes and communities with a single click. In our field, information saves lives.

​We may not have reached all our goal yet, but every step forward is a step towards a cleaner, safer, and healthier kingdom. From sharing practical health lessons to promoting community wellness, we are making progress together—one household, one community, and one milestone at a time.

​Let’s keep pushing forward, supporting one another, and treating every piece of knowledge as an opportunity to improve public health. Success and community transformation don’t come to those who quit; they belong to those who stay consistent and persevere.

​Thank you for being an essential part of this journey. The road to better environmental health continues, and more valuable insights, lessons, and updates are on the way!

​Let’s keep building a healthier nation! 🇸🇿💼🌱


゚viralシ

06/07/2026

MINISTRY OF HEALTH CONCLUDES WORLD FOOD SAFETY MONTH WITH HIGH-LEVEL NATIONAL COMMEMORATION

EZULWINI – Following a month-long series of regional activities dedicated to World Food Safety Day throughout June, the Ministry of Health’s Environmental Health Department successfully convened a high-profile national commemoration at the Sibane Sami Hotel on Friday, July 3, 2026.

The benchmark national event was organized directly by the Environmental Health Department under the Ministry of Health, drawing critical technical and financial support from the country offices of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The commemoration brought together a robust contingent of senior health officials and multisectoral stakeholders.

Key representatives in attendance spanned the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, various local municipalities, the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), the Eswatini Competition Commission, the Consumer Association, and prominent leaders from the local food industry.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Health, the Director of Health Services lauded the Environmental Health Department's strategic initiative to unite stakeholders from across the entire "farm-to-fork" value chain.

The Minister emphasized the critical need for robust data utilization, urging stakeholders to make meaningful, practical use of the food safety data generated on a daily basis. According to the Minister, a data-driven approach is paramount to guiding the country's strategic alignment with this year’s global theme:

‘From Burden to Solutions: Safe Food Everywhere.’