The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Alhagie Babou Jallow
31 October 2009
NBR — A massive inspection of street foods and vendors in North Bank ended recently in Kerewan.
The exercise was aimed at assessing the level of food hygiene and to sensitize food vendors on the need to comply with the Food Act with the objective of ensuring that food are well prepared and of standard. Speaking shortly after the exercise, Amadou Barrow, the public health officer at Kerewan Health Centre, reiterated the importance the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare attaches to food safety and hygiene in the attainment of quality health care services for the people of The Gambia. He said that food safety and hygiene is a major public health concern by government and its development partners notably the World Health Organization.
According to him, the microbiologic hazards associated with food and food preparations are receiving increasing public attention. Â"They are causing increasing concern not only among consumers, but also among those involved in all facets of food production and distribution where street food is not an exception. It was against this background that the health inspector sensitized the vendors on proper transportation, handling and storage of prepared foodÂ" he said.
He added that the exercise has also ascertained that most of the reported food-borne related problems are as a result of contamination from raw food, infected handlers and inadequate clean equipment while the abusing of time and temperature is not an exception. He said to reduce and prevent food poisoning all food handlers are referred to the lab for screening - for parasitic infections prior to their certification. Consequently, he added, street foods are perceived to be a major public health risk noting that despite the relentless effort injected by the health inspectors at Kerewan Health Centre, street foods continue to be long-standing public health problem in the country.
Â"Proliferation of food vendors has always been blamed for the situation since it is the only business that is not seasonal, as people need to eat daily. Â"In our struggle to improve and maintain the selling of safe and quality food to the general public, health inspectors would continue to embark on massive inspection of food vendors and food establishment within Kerewan and its catchment areaÂ" he assured. Barrow then urged the public to strengthen the existing collaboration and commitment in maintaining a healthy and safety circulation of foods.
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