The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has presented public health and sanitation logistics to the Metro Public Health Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to support the enforcement of environmental health and food safety by-laws following the recent floods in parts of the metropolis.
The presentation, made on Thursday, formed part of the Assembly’s post-flood response measures aimed at protecting public health, intensifying surveillance, and preventing contaminated food items retrieved from floodwater from entering markets for public consumption.
Items presented to the Metro Public Health Department included 1,000 body bags, 500 blankets, 50 packets of N95 nose masks, 100 surgical masks, 50 surgical gloves, 50 gynaecological gloves, 100 utility gloves, 40 pairs of Wellington boots, four knapsack sprayers, two mist blowers and two containers of chloride-chlorine granules.
Presenting the items, Hon. Allotey stated that the aftermath of the floods necessitated strong public health action, particularly in areas where shops, warehouses, markets, and food vending points had been affected by floodwater.
According to him, the logistics were being provided to strengthen the capacity of Environmental Health Officers to inspect affected areas, enforce the Assembly’s by-laws, disinfect contaminated spaces and ensure that unsafe food items did not find their way into the markets.
He said floodwater could carry waste, chemicals, sewage, and other harmful substances, and therefore, food items exposed to such conditions could not be considered safe for human consumption.
He added that the Assembly would intensify monitoring in markets and commercial areas to identify and remove contaminated food items, while offenders who breached food safety and sanitation by-laws would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The Mayor urged traders, shop owners and residents whose goods had been affected by the floods to cooperate with Environmental Health Officers and avoid selling or distributing items that had come into contact with floodwater.
Hon. Allotey indicated that the post-flood response would go beyond clean-up exercises, adding that public education, inspection of food premises, disinfection and enforcement would continue in all affected communities.
He called on residents to report persons suspected of drying, repackaging, storing or selling flood-contaminated food items, saying community vigilance was critical to preventing contaminated goods from entering the food chain.
Receiving the items, a representative of the Metro Public Health Department, Mr. George Lawson expressed appreciation to the Mayor for the items and said the logistics would enhance their field operations, especially in communities affected by the floods.
He said the department would use the items to intensify food safety inspections, monitor markets and food premises, support disinfection activities, and enforce the Assembly’s public health and sanitation by-laws.
