BY JOY OFASIA
THE Honiara Market Vendor Association (HMVA) in partnership with the UN Women Organisation has recently wrapped up 2 days of training on Food Safety and Hygiene.
The main objective of the workshop is to educate and train women vendors on how to improve their skills and knowledge in preparing safe and hygienic foods when sold to local food lovers at the Honiara City Council Central Market and other market outlets in the City boundary.
The training workshop was held at the Honiara Hotel conference room in Honiara and facilitated by the Honiara City Council (HCC) Food Unit.
The Market Vendor Association Treasurer, Monica Justus said that the women are so privileged to have attended this training in order to improve their skills in preparing and handling food and other food safety and hygiene skills.
“We want women to have more knowledge and to improve on their skills as a market vendor who normally sells food to locals. This is because as soon as you put your food out there to sell, you are selling your food out to the nation and the people’s healths are in your hands depending on what is being already prepared,” said Monica.
“It is good for women to participate and engage in economic activities which will allow them to influence positive changes in their own lives and in their communities,” the Treasurer added.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Food hygiene is the conditions and measures necessary to ensure the safety of food from production to consumption. It refers to the conditions and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination and food-borne illnesses.
“Food can become contaminated at any point during slaughtering or harvesting, processing, storage, distribution, transportation, and preparation. Lack of adequate food hygiene can lead to foodborne diseases and death of the consumer.”
The workshop also acts as an opportunity for women vendors to openly share their challenges and experiences.
