Food vendors told to observe hygiene

Food vendors within the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly (ONMA) have been urged to consider the health of their customers when preparing food for sale.

This, the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central Constituency, Patrick Yaw Boamah said would help improve the health of their customers.

Mr Boamah said this recently in Accra at the Zongo Cuisine Promotion Programme organised for food vendors within the constituency.

He said due to the nature of work most people are engaged in,

“We most often depend on you for our daily meals, so if you do not prepare the food under hygienic conditions and use wholesome food stuffs we are at risk of contracting diseases such as cholera.”

He said caterers should bear in mind that the food being prepared was for public consumption and should be of high standards, thereby putting the health of their customers first.

“It is only through this that we will have healthy constituents, bring development to the people and also ensure you are in constant business,” he added.

 The Principal Environmental Health Officer at ONMA, Ms Christiana Otoo said with the onset of the rains, the outbreak of cholera was eminent, hence the need to keep one’s surroundings clean and  cook  healthy, hot meals.

 She said cholera was a contagious disease which could easily spread among people hence the need to prevent the spread of the disease by all means.

 She noted that the assembly would not spare anyone found cooking under unhygienic conditions adding that; “when you are caught, we will take you to court for the necessary sanctions to be applied.”

 Ms Otto advised the vendors and their labourers to go for the required annual health checks to ensure food safety saying; “it is an offence to sell food when you have not been medically screened and certified.”

 The Director, Women Entrepreneurship Development at the National  Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) , Ms Habiba  Sumani said the women were taken through courses  such  as packaging, personal hygiene, savings and pensions with the aim of boosting their businesses and improving their lives.

 She urged the women to practise what they have been taught in order to have a healthy society.

BY JEMIMA ESINAM KUATSINU