Maintaining environmental sanitation is everyone’s responsibility, not that of any single individual or organization. Every small action—such as putting trash in the right bin, recycling waste, using eco-friendly products, and planting trees—can make a big difference. When each person understands their role, we can work together to create a cleaner and greener future for the next generation. So, what is environmental sanitation? And why are sanitation principles in hospitals and schools so important? Let’s find out.
What is environmental sanitation?
Environmental sanitation includes a wide range of activities and practices aimed at maintaining and improving the quality of the environment around us. This does not only involve keeping the air, water, and soil clean, but also includes waste management, recycling, and the responsible use of natural resources.
The main objective of environmental sanitation is to create a healthy living environment for everyone, reduce health risks, and contribute to sustainable social development.
The importance of environmental sanitation
The environment is not only where we live, but also the source of valuable resources and an ideal habitat for all living things. Every day, the environment provides us with air to breathe, water to drink, food to survive, and energy to function. It also absorbs waste and helps maintain ecological balance and ecosystem health.
The environment is also a valuable store of information, preserving the history of human evolution and development. It gives us important signals and early warnings of natural hazards, allowing us to prepare for and respond to disasters. It also reflects human intelligence, culture, and spirit across different periods of history.
Environmental sanitation regulations
As environmental pollution becomes increasingly severe, environmental sanitation regulations play a key role in protecting public health and maintaining a sustainable living environment.
Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP provides detailed guidance on industries that are not encouraged to develop due to their high risk of environmental pollution, and requires production facilities to strictly comply with regulations on environmental impact assessments and environmental permits. Circular No. 02/2022/TT-BTNMT also sets out detailed guidance on the closure of domestic solid waste landfills, emphasizing the responsibility of waste treatment operators to report and monitor the closure process. The 2020 Law on Environmental Protection No. 72/2020/QH14 is another major step forward, regulating the protection of environmental components such as water, air, and soil, as well as strategic environmental assessments.
Each individual also has a responsibility to maintain environmental sanitation through simple actions such as reducing plastic bag use, collecting waste and disposing of it properly, not smoking in public places, and avoiding littering or illegal dumping. Keeping the environment clean is not only the responsibility of governments and organizations, but also of every citizen.
Principles of environmental sanitation
Maintaining environmental sanitation is essential for protecting public health and creating safe places to live, study, and work. In this article, we look in detail at environmental sanitation principles in two important settings: hospitals and schools.
Environmental sanitation principles in hospitals
Hospitals are places where many patients gather, and the risk of infection is high. Therefore, proper hospital sanitation practices are a critical part of protecting both patients and healthcare workers, while also ensuring suitable conditions for treatment and care.
Surface disinfection and cleaning
Hospitals need to use strong disinfectants to clean frequently touched surfaces such as tables, chairs, hospital beds, and medical equipment. This helps eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
Proper medical waste handling
Medical waste includes needles, used gauze, and contaminated materials. This waste must be classified, collected, and treated according to strict regulations to prevent infection and environmental contamination.
Maintaining clean air
Hospital ventilation and air-conditioning systems should be checked and maintained regularly to ensure the air remains clean and well ventilated. This helps reduce the spread of respiratory infectious diseases.
Training and supervision of healthcare staff
Medical staff must be trained in sanitation and disinfection procedures. Regular supervision is also necessary to ensure these procedures are followed consistently.
Personal hygiene rules
Healthcare workers and patients must comply with personal hygiene rules such as frequent handwashing, wearing masks, and using gloves when necessary.
Environmental sanitation principles in schools
Environmental sanitation in schools not only protects students’ health but also creates better learning conditions. In particular, sanitation plans for primary schools should focus on teaching children the importance of personal and shared hygiene from an early age. School sanitation does not only help prevent disease but also improves the learning environment and educational quality.
Daily classroom cleaning
Classrooms should be cleaned and swept daily to remove dust and germs. Special attention should be given to lower grades to ensure the health of younger students.
Keeping toilets clean
School toilets must be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Clean water and soap should always be available for students to wash their hands.
Safe waste management
Domestic waste and school-related waste need to be collected and handled properly to avoid environmental pollution.
Personal hygiene education
Students should be taught the importance of personal hygiene, including handwashing, staying clean, and not littering.
Strict compliance with these sanitation principles not only helps prevent disease but also contributes to creating a safe and clean environment for studying and working. In both hospitals and schools, the serious implementation of environmental sanitation principles is essential to ensuring health and safety for everyone.
Current sanitation challenges
Vietnam is facing major challenges in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in the context of rapid socio-economic development. Environmental pollution and ecological degradation are urgent sanitation issues that must be addressed.
Environmental quality in many areas has deteriorated and can no longer absorb waste, especially in regions with concentrated industrial activity. This has led to severe environmental degradation and serious damage to natural ecosystems.
Water pollution in Vietnam is also an urgent issue, especially in river basins such as the Nhue–Day and Dong Nai–Saigon systems. Modern technologies have been applied to improve polluted water sources, with relatively low operating costs and simple management.
In the East Sea area, the situation is also becoming increasingly complicated, with no fully effective solutions in place yet. Problems include marine plastic waste, oil pollution from offshore oil and gas exploitation, maritime transport activities, and oil spills that affect Vietnam’s coastal areas.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the information above helps you better understand the concept of environmental sanitation and its importance. Strict implementation of sanitation principles not only protects individual health but also contributes to creating a safe and healthy living and working environment for the community. Together, we can build a greener and more sustainable future.