The role of Environmental Health Practitioners in the health delivery system is primarily that of prevention of poor health and promotion of good health through the following activities:

• Control of communicable diseases
• Control of diseases which are transmissible between vertebral animals and human beings
• Control of diseases which are transmissible solely between food animals such as foot and mouth
• Port Health activities
• Food safety activities
• Water quality activities
• Pest and Vector Control activities
• Public health inspections - sanitation and building safety
• Environmental pollution control activities
• Health education activities
• Licensing of all types of retail premises
• Administration of health statutes such as Public Health Act and Food and Food Standards Act.