Seychelles commemorated World Health Day under the theme, “How safe is your food? From farm to plate – make food safe!” in various events across the country.

In the capital Victoria, the Minister of Health Mrs Mitcy Larue officially opened a ‘Food Safety Fair’ which depicted the different stages food goes through before getting on our plate. Addressing those present at the fair, the World Health Organisation Liaison Officer for Seychelles Dr. Cornelia Atsyor conveyed the Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti’s message for this day and highlighted the importance of food safety ‘from farm to plate’.

Food contaminated by harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances can lead to a wide range of health problems. This is responsible for more than 200 diseases, including typhoid fever, diarrhoea and cancers, among others……. Everyone has a role to play in making food safe and I urge food handlers and consumers to be familiar with common food hazards and handle and prepare food safely” Dr. Atsyor conveyed on behalf of the Regional Director.

The full content of Dr. Matshidiso Moeti’s World Health Day message on food safety was also published in the  “Seychelles Nation”, the country’s most read national newspaper on April 7th.

During that same ceremony, the Public health Authority of the Ministry of Health and the Seychelles Fair Trading Commission signed a memorandum of understanding which will ensure that the two parties become partners in terms of food safety and complements each other in maintaining consumers’ protection.

On the island of Praslin, sensitization sessions on food safety and the importance of hand-washing by the Public Health Authority took place at school level. Primary school students at the schools also enjoyed practical sessions on the key steps of handwashing and enjoyed some fresh fruits served to them at the end of the health education session.

At the Plaisance Primary school on Mahe, the private sector partnered with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to commemorate this day. In line with the theme, ‘Pam’s Catering Services’, a local  private catering company handed over to the school an electric hot table. The hot table will help in improving the way food is transported and distributed to the school as well as making school meal both appealing and safe for students and staff to eat.

In the Seychelles, World Health Day is also celebrated nationally as the Health Workers Day, the day to show appreciation to the work of all staff of the Ministry of Health. As such, on the day, the Minister of Health, Mrs Larue also made a declaration on the status of health of the people of Seychelles in the National Assembly. A ceremony was held in the afternoon to award all the long-service staff of the Ministry. In the presence of President James Michel and the Minister of Health, a total of 47 health workers were rewarded for serving either 25, 30, 40, or 43 years of service. Commemoration of World health Day 2015 ended with a sport festival for all health staff in Victoria on the Saturday.

The week-long activities received very good media publicity. Numerous news items on the activities taking place during the week were aired on the national television, and publicized in at least two of the country’s daily newspaper. This ultimately increased awareness of the general population on the importance of food safety “from farm to plate”. As such, Seychelles has joined the rest of the world to successfully celebrate the 64th anniversary of the World Health Assembly.

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For more information, please contact:

Mrs Doreen Hotive, NPO/HIP Officer
Tel: (248) 4224795
Email: hotived [at] who.int
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Below:

01. Handing over of a food warmer to the Plaisanace Primary school

02. WHO Liaison Officer Dr Cornelia Atsyor addresses the delegates at the launching of teh Food Safety Fair