ADDIS ABABA | 7 APRIL – Ethiopia commemorated World Health Day themed, “How safe is your food? From farm to plate – make food safe!” in events in Addis Ababa, the Capital, and Jimma Town of Oromiya Regional State.

In Addis Ababa, a symposium organized by the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health that brought together the health, agriculture, water, trade and private sectors as well as regulatory and standardization bodies, consumers and the media took place in the presence of the State Minister of Health and the WHO Representative in Ethiopia. 

“It is urgent that governments, peoples’ representatives, food producers, businesses and consumers put measures in place that protect the health of people by improving food safety from the point of production to consumption; from farm to plate,” urged Dr Pierre M’pele-Kilebou, WHO Representative in Ethiopia, underscoring that food safety is everyone’s business. 

Dr Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health, reminded participants that “Ensuring food safety is key to a nation’s well-being and sustainable growth,” adding that the public and consumers need to be well aware of food safety measures, including knowledge of the contents and expiry dates of processed food. 

Access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Over 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhea to cancer, are caused by unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, chemical substances, and it is estimated that 2million people die every year from contaminated food or drinking water. These affect, to a greater extent, children, pregnant women, the sick and the elderly, and impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems, and harming national economies, tourism and trade. 

The WHO Representative highlighted health promotion and sensitization of the public as key to ensuring food safety in Ethiopia, and affirmed that WHO will continue to work with the Ministry of Health and its agencies in this regard.

In Jimma, a similarly-themed symposium was organized by Jimma University, bringing together physicians, academia, the Jimma Health Bureau, town health extension professionals, town administration, kebeles, health center, retailers and hotel owners bearing on the responsibility of food vendors, health extension workers and the public to ensure food safety.

WHO works with the Government of Ethiopia to ensure the health of the Ethiopian people, providing technical support on issues encompassing nutrition, water and sanitation and food safety among others.

Ethiopia | World Health Day 2015 Brochure

For more information please contact

Wassihun Melaku Belay
Health Promotion Officer
WHO Ethiopia
Email: belayw [at] who.int" target="_blank">belayw [at] who.int
Tel: +251 919 795 722

Loza Mesfin Tesfaye
Communication Officer
WHO Ethiopia
Email: tesfayel [at] who.int" target="_blank">tesfayel [at] who.int
Tel: +251 911 144 194
 
Photo: WHO Ethiopia/ Loza Mesfin