Training - Biomedical Waste Management Training provided to Health Care Administrators, Environmental Health Professionals and Solid Waste Managers 

Training - Training in pesticide analysis for staff member of the Dominica Produce Chemistry laboratory at CEHI.

Health Sector Planning - Assisted with National Health Sector Planning.

Training - CEHI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Family Affairs and Gender Relations of St Lucia, the Caribbean Development Bank, Pan American Health Organisation, Health Caribbean and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Quebec, hosted a training course in Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA).

The course was part of a planning exercise geared toward the development of a comprehensive, region-wide EHIA programme.

It was designed to develop the skills of health and planning officers and private consultants in the preparation and review of environmental health impact assessments related to both public and private sector projects.

Food Testing - Analysis of suspected poisonous substance for the Police Department in order to assist with a criminal investigation.

Asbestos Assessment - Conducted a preliminary asbestos assessment.

Water Quality Testing - Coastal water quality data was generated for Glanvillia, Lagon, Douglas Bay and Toucarie Bay. River water quality data was generated for the Indian River.

Training - The Institute trained a government representative in the "Management of Sanitary Landfills".

Water Quality Testing - Equipment for water quality testing supplied and in-country training in water quality testing provided for the Dominica - Ministry of Health/Produce Chemist Laboratory/Dominica Water & Sewerage Company.

Development of education material - The two sets of training materials (a Student Package and a Trainer's Manual) on Industrial Chemicals and Wastes in the Automotive Mechanic Industry and the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry which were developed by the Institute in 1996 were piloted in two technical institutions in Barbados and St. Lucia in early 1997. In March 1997, an evaluation of the materials was conducted, and the findings were quite encouraging. To ensure wider utilization of the materials, a Train-the-Trainer Workshop for six additional countries (Antigua/Barbuda; Belize; Bahamas; Dominica; Jamaica; Trinidad & Tobago) was also conducted.

Waste Management - The Institute provided Terms of Reference to the Ministry of Health for the "Design and Supervision of Constructor of a Sanitary Landfill" for Fond Collet.

The Institute also trained an Environmental Health Officer in the "Operation and Maintenance of Waste Water Treatment Plants" and helped a community group construct sanitary facilities in the community of Castle Bruce. CEHI also started planning for a small composting project with another community group.

Information Services - In order to improve the Environmental Health Information System of Dominica, the Water Quality Monitoring System which was piloted in late 1995, was modified to address some of Dominica's concerns.

Laboratory Services - Extracts of sugar cane bagasse were analyzed for the presence of the herbicide 2,4 - D.

Extracts of surface water were screened for the presence of pesticides following a possible pesticide pollution event.

Environmental Monitoring - Equipment for water quality testing purchased through the CEHI/ENCORE Project was shipped to the Ministry of Health and Produce Chemist Laboratory.

Waste Management - Through the EHIP, CEHI was able to respond to project proposals/ideas from three communities in Dominica related to communal sanitary facilities.

In Castle Bruce, a small community on the east coast of Dominica, CEHI/EHIP met with the Catholic Men's Organisation and discussed the construction of ventilated-improved pit (VIP) latrines for the church yard. The facilities, which will be available for use by the entire community, will include two latrines and facilities for hand-washing. All labour will be provided by the community and CEHI/EHIP has agreed to contribute to the purchase of the materials for the facilities and provide technical advice.

Two other communities in Dominica are also seeking to improve their communal sanitary facilities with help from CEHI/EHIP. These communities, Bioche and Colihaut, are both located on the North-West coast of Dominica and are in critical need of Public Health facilities (toilets, baths, laundry). They have approached the EHIP and preliminary site visits have been conducted. Proposal for improvements are being prepared by community groups, headed by the Village Councils, and it is hoped that assistance will be provided in the near future.

Information Services - To address the water quality concerns of the Region, the Institute developed and began pilot testing a Water Quality Monitoring Information System. This system is expected to capture water quality data for drinking, ground, surface, coastal, recreational and waste waters. By the end of 1995, the system was being piloted at the Water Authorities in Dominica and Grenada. It is hoped that by September 1996, the system would be implemented in all of the OECS countries before final implementation in the remainder of CEHI's Member States.

The Institute in its desire to improve the management of environmental health information in its Member States, conducted with support from PAHO/CPC, an assessment of the management information system capabilities of the Ministries of Health and the Water Authorities in the above countries.

Parallel to (1) above, an evaluation of the Water and Sanitation Monitoring System (WASAMS) was undertaken. This evaluation identified the reasons for the non-implementation of the system in the targeted countries. An implementation plan was developed and is to be put in place in early 1996 with support from PAHO/CPC.

Laboratory Services - Laboratory services for moisture content determination were provided to the Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company Ltd. (SWMCOL) in support of a Solid Waste Generation and Composition Study for the Commonwealth of Dominica. In addition, scales were loaned to SWMCOL to facilitate the weighing of waste collection vehicles.

Environmental Monitoring - Equipment and chemicals ordered during late 1994 were received at CEHI. The Equipment was tested and freighted to Produce Chemist Laboratory and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Water quality monitoring was conducted at Mangine, Tou Sab and Soufriere Bay at the Scottshead/Soufriere Local Site, while monitoring at the Portsmouth/Cabrits Local site was conducted for the Indian River and Purple Turtle Beach/Lagon area. The data generated constituted the second data set for these sites, the first data-set being generated during FY 1994. Monitoring was conducted in Dominica during the period August 8-19, 1995.

Laboratory Services - Analytical services were provided to the Water and Sanitation Project in Roseau.

Environmental Monitoring - The Scientist/Coordinator visited Dominica in order to gather information on Water Quality Monitoring in the country. The agencies which participated in this assessment are as follows:

Information gathered included: in-country technical expertise; laboratory facilities; on-going monitoring programmes; potential impacts; water quality regulations; treatment and disinfection; equipment required; training required; data storage, processing and dissemination. Additional information, especially in the area of laboratory equipment is to be provided by some agencies.