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Rwanda: Ministry of Health Continues Crusade Against Poor Hygiene
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Focus Media (Kigali)
26 March 2008
Posted to the web 26 March 2008
Steve Rukundo
Several restaurants/bars and butcheries around Kigali have recently been closed down because they did not meet the hygienic standards required by the Health ministry and the Kigali City Council. Yet some owners complain that they were not given enough time to adjust, or that the amenities required are too expensive.
Through the measure, the ministry of health wants to ensure that the places that deal with food ensure a proper hygiene and do not pose a threat to the health of people visiting them.
Amongst the conditions imposed are correct food management so that expired or rotten food is not consumed, and using separate equipment handling different meats.
Also, there must be a constant supply of water, as well as clean toilets, clean washing facilities and a proper drainage system.
Restaurants are further required to have garbage bins with intact covers in place, and staff should observe strict personal hygiene such as washing hands before handling food and keeping their fingernails short; they should remove any jewelry such as rings and bracelets, and not use nail.
People suffering from illness should not be allowed to work until they received proper treatment. Also, they should avoid smoking in rooms where food is prepared.
Other criteria that determined the closures are not having refrigerators, using dirty utensils, lack of proper uniforms, mixing different kinds of meat with milk and other drinks in the same refrigerator.
Among the restaurants that had to shut their doors are the Flamingo restaurant in Gikondo, which was frequented by many students and staff of SFB.
The reasons for the closure of this restaurant were the poor water supply and lack of proper drainage systems and treatment of waste water.
Also closed down are Super Coupe snack bar in Remera, Hello Corner in Kimironko and several butchers' shops. The ministry of health says that they can only resume work when they ore in order with the requirements.
"The ministry of health is committed to providing conditions necessary for a healthy Rwandan population, and it will continue with this campaign," remarked Minister Ntuwukuriryayo during this latest round of inspections, advising customers of these places to "to be cautious, because prevention is better than cure."
However, some of the business owners complain that the ministry is too harsh. A butcher only identified as Gicumba laments that "the city council is demanding a lot, and often the installations required are too expensive for us." He has to admit, though, that KCC had already given him notice late last year.
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Yet many of the affected entrepreneurs find that the ministry does not give them enough time, considering that there are a lot of requirements.
Obviously, the main victims of this campaign are the employees of the restaurants in question, who are left jobless. "I am not sure of what to do, because I have three children to feed and now I have no income," sighs Aisha, who worked at Flamingo.
However, it has to be noted that since the ministry of health started its inspections, many restaurant owners and butchers around the city have tried to positively respond and ensure that they have the necessary amenities in place.
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