Partnership between leading public health bodies announced
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Association of Port Health Authorities (APHA) today announced that the two organisations would forge a new partnership designed to improve co-ordination of public health controls at ports nationally.
Key features of the partnership include:
- CIEH to assist APHA with administrative, membership and governance support, and in training, accreditation, lobbying and representation
- APHA to support CIEH in accessing its networking facilities and technical working groups
Commenting on the partnership Graham Jukes, CIEH Chief Executive, said:
“I am absolutely delighted to announce this initiative - our two organisations play an essential role in public health control and economic growth. Added to this, the new local authority based health arrangements in England are opening up new opportunities and challenges for both our organisations and this partnership will strengthen our ability to respond effectively.
“Port health is a key specialist discipline within the environmental health suite of knowledge and competencies. Our own CIEH port health special interest group provides dedicated professional peer support to those who work in the port health service throughout the UK and armed services. This initiative will strengthen the transfer of knowledge and information to those who work in this vital service.”
The partnership is a ‘natural fit’ for the CIEH with its successful history of working with international public health bodies and governments as well as national, regional and local government here in the UK.
Chairman of the APHA Executive Board, Councillor Hugh Barratt said:
“I am delighted that the discussions between APHA and CIEH have been fruitful and will be to our mutual benefit. There are many areas of common interest between the CIEH and APHA and it is sensible in the current economic climate to work with key partners wherever possible to share resources and intelligence so that we can deliver effective services.
“This Partnership Agreement with the CIEH will deliver an improvement in the governance arrangements of APHA’s business activities. It will allow us to focus on the important business of protecting the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve across the British Isles and beyond.”
Gary Cooper, APHA company secretary said:
“There is considerable synergy between the role played by the CIEH in supporting, maintaining and representing the environmental health profession and that of the APHA in the support it provides to its constituent membership.
“Given this and the existing service capability, APHA is confident that our partnership will ensure a secure future for port health within the public health arena and maintain confidence in the service.”
