Prior to the medical screening exercise in the Municipality, the Environmental Health Unit organized sensitization seminar on the 11th-14th September, 2023 for some selected food and drink vendors, Honorable Assembly members, school matrons, Hoteliers etc were all present for the occasion. During the period under review, the Assembly adopted a more sustainable approach in reaching majority of food handlers due to time constraints on the side of stakeholders and their unwillingness to leave their workload for a day. We also wanted to have discussions with smaller groups so they understand the issues discussed and be able to communicate it to their members at their respective places of work. For each meeting, we had a minimum of 15 food handlers in all the zones.
ISSUES DISCUSSED
The municipal environmental health officer communicated to the food vendors about the importance of using sanitary dustbin to prevent food contamination, adequate cooking to kill pathogens, avoiding cross contamination during handling and cooking of food.
Facilitators reiterated the importance of food hygiene and safety by explaining 7 key concepts namely:
- Keep surroundings and utensils clean
- Separate raw food from cooked food
- Cook food thoroughly
- Keep food at safe temperature
- Use clean and safe water for cooking.
- Provide fly proof nets around their foods.
- Wear protective clothing (hairnet, aprons, closed foot wears)
They further reiterated the importance of food and nutrition to the well-being of people in the Municipality, by adding that we get energy and fuel from food we eat and as such the nutrition cannot be taken for granted. She also admonished food vendors to include vegetables in their food preparation because it contains vitamins that promote healthy growth.
RECOMMENDATION
Educating food handlers is smaller groups is more convenient since stakeholders willingly accepted the approach and fully participated, it is a step in the right direction and it should be encouraged.
CONCLUSION
The food and drink handlers showed their appreciation to management for organizing such program to educate them. The Municipal Environmental Health Officer assured the food vendors that environmental health officers will continue to intensify hygiene education throughout the municipality to ensure food hygiene and safety. The seminars were successful.
Please see attached pictures.