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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
The Pan American
Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) states
that “Access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food
is key to sustaining life and promoting good health".
PAHO/WHO states that the overall goal is to improve food
safety through public awareness and encourage consumers to
ensure the food on their plate is safe, estimating that
“unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or
chemical substances causes more than 200 diseases ranging from
diarrhea to cancers”.
These startling facts support the theme, “Food Safety” for
this year’s World Health Day celebrations scheduled for
Tuesday, 7th April, 2015 at 8:00am at the Church of God
Auditorium on Joe Farrington Road. In an effort to address
these issues, Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in partnership
with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health
Organization (PAHO/WHO) will host a one day symposium to call
attention to Food Safety concerns.
Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre has accepted the challenge to
provide the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent our
citizens from experiencing those food or water borne disease
caused by unsafe food habits. This symposium will highlight
those vital keys to incorporate in food handling, food
storage, hand washing, glove donning and food preparation.
Applying these principles can almost guarantee that the food
we eat is not contaminated.
As a residential health care agency that is home to over
four hundred clients and employer to at least 50 Food Service
Staff, Sandilands has an obligation to promote and enforce
Food Safety principles that break the vicious cycle of disease
and malnutrition, that affects young children, elderly and
the sick in particular.
Locally, the PAHO/WHO country office has provided technical
support and assistance in monitoring foodborne illness, in
addition to, national and regional support to strengthen food
safety initiatives and response to foodborne illness
outbreaks. Therefore, this partnership is not only playing a
role in reducing stress on health systems but also maintaining
strength and vibrancy in the areas of trade and tourism –
two very important areas for our country.
Bahamians, “Everybody has a role to play in keeping food
safe” not only to protect the health and well-‐being of our
residents, but also the socio-‐economic development of our
nation. The collaboration with PAHO/WHO not only signals the
importance of this event but also highlights the
cross-‐cutting issues that area of Food Safety encompasses.
In this symposium there is a principle for each of us to
learn to keep our food clean and our bodies healthy. The
invitation is extended to ALL, if you prepare food as a
necessity, a hobby, or professionally: this symposium is for
you. If you simply like to eat good, clean food this
symposium is for you.
For more information on World Health Day and PAHO/WHO work in the area of Food Safety, please visit: http://www.paho.org/bah/
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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