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The persistent disagreement over the tier of government with the rights to certify food handlers operating in the Federal Capital Territory has been put to rest, as the Federal High Court has granted the FCT Administration the right.
Recall that a hospitality outfit, Dunes Investment and Global Services, had dragged the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, and FCTA before a Federal High Court to determine the agency and or authority, it should relate with and pay relevant fees and charges.
The court, on July 12, 2023, ruled in favor of the administration, and asked the applicant to relate with the FCTA as the agency empowered to issue certificates of medical fitness as well as screen its food handlers.
Director, Legal Services, of the Human and Health Services Secretariat, HHSS, Mrs. Comfort Fasanya, while speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, expressed relief that the challenge of who should train, screen, and certify food, water and beverage handlers in the FCT has been finally put to rest.
The acting Secretary, Human and Health Services Secretariat of the FCTA, Mr Noel Haruna, called for the cooperation of relevant stakeholders to ensure strict compliance to the approved procedures of food handling.
According to him, the goal is to ensure the safety of members of the public from contaminated food, drinks, or beverages.
“Now that the matter has been put to rest by a court of competent jurisdiction, we should all work together for the safety of all residents of the FCT from any food poisoning,” he said.
On his part, the Director of Public Health at Secretariat, Abdulrahman Sadiq, explained that the clarification became necessary to ensure that relevant stakeholders, particularly those in the hospitality industry were all on the same page.
He said that training, screening, and certification of all food handlers was necessary to curb the outbreak of diseases caused by poor or unhealthy handling of food for public consumption.
He said that people operating restaurants, hotels, food processors, and those in the hospitality industry in general must be screened every six months and be certified fit to handle food for public consumption.
This, according to him, is to ensure that every food that the members of the public consume are safe and will not lead to food poisoning or outbreak of any diseases.
“The goal is to ensure public safety and to curtail the outbreak of diseases either because the people handling the food are not healthy, or the environment is not hygienic enough.
“This conference is organised to ensure that FCTA and relevant stakeholders are all on the same page on this and to also strengthen working synergy among stakeholders including Abuja Municipal Area Council,” he said.
Also, Mathew Ashikeni, Director Special Duties, HHSS, called on the stakeholders to work as a team.
This, according to him, will ensure a health society free from all kinds of food poison and public health concern on account of consumption of food, drinks, or beverages.
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