Message from WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti
On June 7 we celebrate World Food Safety Day, because every person has a right to safe food for a nutritious and healthy diet.
However, each year, 91 million people in sub-Saharan Africa suffer from acute food-borne illness and 137,000 sadly lose their lives.
The theme this year is “food safety, everyone’s business” as we all have roles to play along the food supply chain, from farmers, to vendors to consumers – and this is even more important in the context of border closures and supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For most people in Africa, traditional food markets are part of daily life. However, in many markets, regulation for food handling and to prevent cross-contamination, has not kept pace with population needs.
Another issue is food spoilage between farms and markets – it is estimated that post-harvest spoilage could feed up to 48 million people every year in sub-Saharan Africa. This calls for smarter investment and design of our supply chains.
Countries are taking steps towards ensuring a better supply of safe food. For instance, Benin and the Gambia have established dedicated food safety authorities and set-up coordination mechanisms for multisectoral action.
At WHO, we are helping countries to prevent, detect and respond to food-borne illness. We are working with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in strengthening national rapid alert networks and international collaboration. Together with the World Organisation for Animal Health, our three agencies are taking a “one health” approach to prevent food-borne and zoonotic diseases, and antimicrobial resistance.
There are many challenges in producing, processing and distributing safe, sufficient and nutritious foods and these challenges require a whole-of-society response. In addition, to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases, foods should be handled and sold in environments that facilitate physical distancing and good hand hygiene.
So today, I urge governments to work across sectors to ensure food safety, and the continuity of food supply chains, including export certification and import control, as essential services.
Regulatory authorities play critical roles in food safety assurance and supporting markets to restructure and innovate towards safer environments.
The food processing industry also needs to ensure workers are protected from COVID-19 through preventive measures and systems for early detection, isolation and care for workers who may fall ill.
Together, we can take action for safer food from farm to plate, for everyone in Africa.