Monrovia, 9 April 2015 - World Health Day was celebrated in Liberia under the theme ‘Food Safety’, keeping food safe from the farm to the plate. A week-long awareness and sensitization campaign on food safety was conducted in market places, schools and various communities. These activities were targeted at creating awareness and educating the public on the importance of keeping food safe and the dangers of consuming unsafe food.

Activities commemorating the Day were jointly organized and executed by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, World Health Organization in collaboration with a number of community-based organizations. In Monrovia, the capital city, a total of 14 schools, seven markets and 10 communities were sensitized on food safety. During the sensitization activities at the markets, schools and communities, officials from the Ministry of Health and the WHO admonished marketers, students and community members how to keep their food safe in order to avoid contracting diseases.

To buttress the campaign activities, a variety of flyers with educational messages on food safety were produced and distributed. A total of 1000 flyers/brochures were distributed to schools, marketers, food vendors and community dwellers. The campaign was also inter spaced by dramas and other entertainment methods to disseminate key messages in the communities.

Additionally, radio messages on food safety were aired through UNMIL (United Nation Mission in Liberia) Radio to the 15 counties of the country. Key messages aired focused on daily hand washing with soap and clean water, protection of food from flies and other insects and washing of fruits and vegetables before eating them. Other messages focused on promoting use of protective clothing when preparing food, and employing safety measures for preventing diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea and Ebola.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti's Message on World Health Day was published in the local media in the country. Also, a proclamation commemorating the day was published by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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For more information, please contact:

Mr. Eric Johnson, Health Economist
Email: johnsone [at] who.int" target="_blank">  johnsone [at] who.int

Tel: +231 886516803