The Mississippi State Department of Health is joining health departments across the country to recognize National Public Health Week, April 1-7, 2024. This annual celebration highlights the importance of public health and its impact on communities here in Mississippi and in the whole country.
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At the Mississippi Department of Health, our commitment to licensing, certification and environmental health is paramount to protecting all Mississippians. We protect the public’s food, water and milk and establish and enforce standards for licensed health care professionals and health care facilities, ensuring the provision of high-quality care and safety for all residents.
Environmental health
Ours Environmental Health Service: touches every Mississippian and its visitors every day. Did you drink a glass or bottle of water today? Did you use milk for breakfast, cooking or coffee? Have you eaten out at a retail food restaurant? Have you been enjoying the outdoors without the hassles of mosquitoes and domestic sewage? Here’s a look at the programs that make it all possible:
Bureau of Public Water Supply: The water utility is tasked with ensuring that federal and state clean water laws are followed by all of Mississippi’s 1,100 public water systems. The Bureau provides regulatory oversight and assistance from rule managers and regional engineers, regulatory analysis of drinking water samples with the assistance of the Public Health Laboratory, support for Community water fluoridation, and special loan and grant programs to ensure that that drinking water infrastructure is adequately maintained. Water Supply also certifies drinking water operators and provides management training for public water supply boards.
Food Protection: This program ensures that all of the more than 14,000 retail and manufactured food establishments in Mississippi follow the FDA Food Code as well as all applicable state regulations to protect the health of consumers. The Plan Review Team works with all new retail locations to confirm that their design, construction materials, procedures, and equipment meet FDA standards. Food ecologists perform risk-based inspections at least once or twice a year in restaurants, catering establishments and other food establishments, as well as follow-up on public complaints to prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness and to provide visible A, B and C ratings for the public to use when deciding where to eat.
Waste water on site: While larger municipal and commercial sewer systems are managed by the MDEQ, MSDH’s On-Site Wastewater Program ensures that individual residential wastewater systems follow the Mississippi On-Site Wastewater Act for proper design and installation to provide adequate cleaning up the property. Wastewater ecologists evaluate soil types and water bodies when making system recommendations, as well as investigate complaints of malfunctioning wastewater systems. In addition, the program certifies system manufacturers, installers and the septic pump/haulage industry.
Milk and bottled water: The Milk Program inspects and licenses Mississippi dairy farms, milk haulers and milk processing plants to ensure compliance with FDA requirements and the Interstate Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. This allows Mississippi dairies to transport and sell their milk and dairy products across state lines. Samples of raw and processed milk and milk products are collected and analyzed for safety and compliance in the Public Health Laboratory. Sensitive equipment in dairies and processing plants is inspected and sealed to ensure that sanitary requirements are met before use. Bottled water facilities are inspected for FDA compliance and licensed to operate.
Safety of boilers and pressure vessels: From large steam boilers heating entire buildings to small compressed gas bottles fizzing soft drinks in fast food restaurants, this program ensures that thousands of pressure vessels in Mississippi are routinely inspected to prevent structural damage or gas leaks. which may result in commercial damage or human harm.
Institutional Services: Sanitation inspections are conducted annually by law at Parchman State Prison, as well as at other public and private correctional facilities that require inspections to maintain accreditation or evaluate facility performance. In addition, this program partners with federal agencies to conduct consumer product recalls in Mississippi to ensure recalled items are removed from retail shelves.
Entomology: The state entomologist conducts field collection and analysis of disease-carrying pests, such as mosquitoes and ticks, to determine if and where potential disease outbreaks may occur, the effectiveness of pesticides and other pest control methods, and what types of pests are currently active in Mississippi.
Licensing and Certification
Our Office of Licensing and Certification ensures that healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals and car providers meet high standards of service and
The Department of Health Facility Licensing licenses facilities serving the health care needs of Mississippians, ensuring compliance with quality standards and certifying participation in federal health care programs.
The Child care license The bureau regulates daycare centers, youth camps, and home child care businesses by conducting inspections, offering training, and hearing complaints about compliance with safety standards.
The Professional license The bureau regulates 18 health-related professions, prioritizing the well-being of citizens by ensuring the competent, safe and ethical delivery of services.
Ours Fingerprint unit handles comprehensive background checks for licensed healthcare, pediatric and medical cannabis facilities, collaborating with state and federal agencies to ensure thorough background checks. These efforts underscore our commitment to maintaining the integrity of health and child care services, protecting the health and safety of the public.
At the Mississippi Department of Health, regulatory services are vital components of our mission to promote and protect public health. Through robust regulation, diligent oversight and proactive environmental management, we strive to create a healthier and safer environment for all Mississippians.
