HYGIENE AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT

Role of the Hygiene and Sanitation Department (Cameroon CTD Code)

The department’s primary mission, which falls under the transfer of competencies to Decentralized Territorial Communities (CTDs), is to ensure public hygiene and health within the municipal boundaries, as mandated by the General Code of CTDs.

1. Solid and Liquid Waste Management

This is the most visible and critical function, directly related to maintaining a clean living environment.

• Household Waste Management: Plans, organizes, and monitors the collection, transport, and final disposal (treatment) of household and similar waste. This often involves working with private concessionaires (like HYSACAM) or managing the service directly (en régie).
• Industrial/Hazardous Waste Control: Monitors and controls the management of industrial and toxic waste in collaboration with competent State services.
• Public Cleanliness: Ensures the regular sweeping and cleaning of public spaces such as streets, roads, markets, bus stations, and public gardens.
• Drainage and Run-off: Oversees the construction, maintenance, and flow of primary and secondary storm water drainages to prevent flooding and unsanitary stagnant water.

2. Public Salubrity and Health Enforcement

This function involves regulatory enforcement and community education to protect public health.

• Hygiene Regulations Enforcement: Enforces municipal bylaws related to hygiene and public health, ensuring compliance with standards for housing, markets, and public places.
• Food and Consumer Protection: Conducts quality control checks in structures involved in the production, conditioning, storage, and distribution of foodstuff (denrées alimentaires) destined for local consumption.
• Control of Nuisances and Pollution: Takes measures to prevent or eliminate pollution and nuisances, including noise pollution, and ensures the protection of water sources (surface and groundwater).
• Sanitary Infrastructure: Manages the creation, equipment, and maintenance of public toilets and sanitation facilities in markets and other high-traffic areas.

3. Environmental and Community Action

The department often spearheads local environmental initiatives essential for sustainable development.

• Awareness Campaigns: Organizes and implements information, awareness, and education campaigns on personal and environmental hygiene, sanitation best practices (WASH – Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and disease prevention.
• Green Spaces and Cemeteries: Manages the creation, maintenance, and administration of public cemeteries, along with the upkeep of green spaces and public parks to contribute to urban beautification and air quality.
• Pest and Animal Control: Takes measures for the control of vectors and ensures the restriction of stray animals and the destruction of pests declared harmful.

The Hygiene and Sanitation Department is essential to the day-to-day quality of life in the municipality, operating as the local government’s primary custodian of the public domain and community health.

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