The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of the School of Health and Allied Sciences (SAHS) in conjunction with the Food and Sanitation Committee of UHAS organized a one day training workshop for 15 food vendors at the Medical School Block, North (Trafalgar) Campus.
The vendors from the South (Dave) and North (Trafalgar) Campuses of the University of Health and Allied Sciences were trained in the areas of personal hygiene, food contamination (physical, chemical and biological), food safety regulations and other related topics.
Dr. Nii Korley Kortei, the immediate past Head, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and Chairman of the Food and Sanitation Committee in his introductory remarks noted that, the workshop was organized in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (Volta Region) with the aim of sensitizing food venders on the various Campuses of UHAS on the basics of Food Safety practices. He added that such engagement is geared towards the improvement of quality of food services as well as on the level of trust and confidence between consumers and the venders.
The Chairman of the Food and Sanitation Committee disclosed that, although this was the maiden training workshop, there were subsequent arrangements to organize some screening exercises for Hepatitis A, B, C and other infectious diseases for the food vendors. He believed that, such collaborations will further enhance the quality of food services to the University community.
Dr. Nii Korley Kortei expressed the University’s profound gratitude to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for their assistance in facilitating the certification of food vendors and supporting such a venture. He called for more of such collaborations with the regulatory bodies to safeguard consumer safety.
Speaking on behalf of the Food Vendors, Miss Seraphine Agbah expressed their appreciation to the Department and the officials of the Food and Drugs Authority. She also stated that, they have benefited immensely from the training. Miss Agbah believed that the knowledge gained will aid them to ‘strategize on how to attract good customers within the University and outside as well’. She called for more of such trainings.
Facilitators of the training workshop from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics were Dr. Fidelis Kpodo, Dr. George Aboagye and Mr. Edward Ken Essuman. Other facilitators from Volta Regional Office of Food and Drugs Authority were Mr. Elorm Yao Dordor; Regional Food Safety Desk officer, Mr. Charles Adjei-Mensah, Head of Food Enforcement Unit.
Members of the UHAS Food and Sanitation Committee were also present.