KyUC/F/ARSA/02

KIRINYAGA UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL: HEALTH SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT: CLINICAL MEDICINE
PROGRAMME: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL MEDICINE
YEAR: 2018/2019
SEMESTER: TWO
UNIT CODE: HCH 2301
UNIT TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
LECTURE HOURS: 45 PRE-REQUISITES: NONE
LECTURER: EVAH MAINA
LECTURER CONTACTS: 0723482308 EMAIL: emaina@kyu.ac.ke
1.0 COURSE PURPOSE
To equip learners with knowledge, skills and attitude in the diagnosis and management of environmental
related diseases and accidents.
2.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the learner should be able to:

1. Identify and apply the concepts of environmental health and factors that influence health.
2. Identify factors that influence housing requirements and their relation to health.
3. Apply Legislation governing environmental health in managing environmental related
diseases.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of waste and refuse disposal.
5. Describe proper hygienic techniques in food handling and storage.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of vectors/ vermin and rodents control.
 3.0 COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK TOPIC SUBTOPIC REMARK

1 Environmental Health Definition, definition of terms,-excreta, refuse, waste,

2 Concepts and scope of
environmental health
3 Principles of
environmental health
sewage, pollution, vector, facets of env health.
Public health, primary health care, levels of care-
health promotion, prevention, control and
rehabilitation.
Definition, environment hazards, seven core concepts
of environmental health, exposure, types of exposure

Epidemiological triad Epidemiological triad and environmental hazards.

4 Waste management Definition, types of waste, classification of wastes,

sources of wastes, impact of waste, methods of waste
disposal, managing waste.
5 Water Source, protection of water sources, treatment of
water- the process of treatment. Storage of water,
water borne diseases
6 Continuous assessment CAT 1 CAT1
test

7 Food Characteristics of food, food handling, spoilage,

storage, food borne diseases.
8 Housing and health Characteristics of good housing, health risks
associated with housing, link between poor housing
and health.
Causes of home accidents, prevention of home
Home accidents accidents
9 Vector and rodents control Introduction, diseases associated with vectors, vector
control strategies.
Health care waste Managing health care waste, minimizing medical
management waste

10 Dead disposal and Methods of dead body disposal, handling dead body,
exhumation medical and legal aspects of exhumation

11 Environmental pollution Types of environmental pollution, principles of

pollution management, pollution prevention.

12 Field visits and report Purpose of field visits, preparing for a field visit,
writing report writing

13 Public health legislation Public health Act Cap 242, relevant public health Acts
14 Public health legislation International health regulation and their relevance to
health
15 EXAMS EXAMS

4.0 MODE OF DELIVERY

Lectures, Group discussions, Class assignments, group presentations.

5.0 INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Computers, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projector; A/V system; e-learning, Internet,
Overhead projector (OHP); Manuals; Hand-outs; White board; Flip charts.

6.0 COURSE ASSESSMENT

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATS) 20%, Assignments, 10%, End of Semester

Examination 70%.

7.0 COURSE TEXTBOOKS

1. Allaby, M. (2000). Basics of Environmental Science. 2nd Edition. Routledge. ISBN-13: 978-

0415211765, ISBN-10: 041521176X.
2.  Calver, M., Lymbery, A., McComb, J. and Bamford, M. (2009). Environmental Biology.
Cambridge University Press. ISBN-13: 978-0521679824, ISBN-10: 0521679826.
3. Lehmann, J. and Joseph, S. (2015). Biochar for Environmental Management: Science,
Technology and Implementation. 2nd Edition. ISBN-13: 978-0415704151, ISBN-
10: 0415704154. 
g) Course Journals
1. Global Change Biology.  Blackwell Publishing. ISSN: 13652486, 13541013.
2. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Springer New York. ISSN:
01795953.
3. Mutation Research-Reviews in Mutation Research. Elsevier. ISSN: 13882139, 13835742.
4. Particle and Fibre Toxicology. BioMedCentral.ISSN: 17438977.
i) Reference Textbooks
1. Wright, R. T. and Boorse, D. F. (2013). Environmental Science: Toward A Sustainable
Future. 12th Edition. Benjamin Cummings. ISBN-13: 978-0321811530, ISBN-
10: 0321811534. 
2. Hanley, N., Shogren, J. F. and White, B. (2013). An Introduction to Environmental
Economics, 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN-13: 978-0199568734, ISBN-
10: 0199568731. 
3. Glasson, J. and Therivel, R. (2012). Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment. 4 th
Edition. Routledge. ISBN-13: 000-0415664705, ISBN-10: 0415664705. 
b) Reference Journals
1. Environmental Pollution.Elsevier Limited. ISSN: 02697491, 18736424.
2. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B: Critical Reviews.  Taylor and
Francis Inc.ISSN: 10937404, 15216950.
3. Environmental Conservation. Cambridge University Press. ISSN: 14694387, 03768929.
4. Food and Environmental Virology. Springer New York. ISSN: 18670334, 18670342.