Butchery owners sensitised on Public Health Act

CHONGWE municipal council in collaboration with the district health office has embarked on a public health compliance sensitisation drive of business houses to enforce the Public Health Act.

The first group to be hosted were butchery owners who were sensitized on abattoir, transportation of animals and meat products regulations during a meeting at the council.

The butchery owners from Chongwe CBD were engaged on the importance of public health compliance.

Council health inspector Haswell Hakooma advised the butchery owners to avoid trading in uninspected meat.

“We will not condone any butchery selling uninspected meat to the public. Meat and meat products must be inspected before trading. These products if not inspected pose a health risk to the public and any trader found wanting will face the law.

“The environment in and outside the butcheries must also be clean. This would help to maintain high hygiene standards. Clean surroundings are key in prevention of disease outbreaks.

“We must act now and not wait for an outbreak,” Mr Hakooma said. And Mitolo Siamuntu, a health inspector from the district health office, advised butchery owners to have their personnel medically examined.

“All food handlers in the butcheries must be medically examined and certified. This is one way we can enhance food safety in the butcheries. This is a legal requirement and must be adhered to. All those found wanting will be prosecuted.

We would like to advise that our role as health inspectors is not to shut down your businesses, but to help you uphold high standards of food safety. This would ultimately attract customers to your businesses,” she said.