An NVMA official (right) sensitising meat vendors at a market in Agege, Lagos |
Rebecca Ejifoma
Worried
over the continuous unhygienic handling of meat products in Nigeria,
the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) Lagos has urged meat
sellers against unhygienic slaughtering and processing of cattle for
consumption in dirty environment or exposing it to flies and other
germs.
The
Association made this crayon call at the Meat Hygiene Awareness
Campaign 2017 held at Agege in Lagos at the weekend. According to
Chairman of the Association, Dr. Omobolaji Alao, consumption of such
unhygienic meat and meat products often come with some health dangers as
a number of diseases can be contacted if not properly handled; thus
could be fatal.
"Such
harmful practice can result in Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Leptospirosis
Salmonellosis ( typhoid fever) among others." He lamented that Nigeria
is fourth in the world with highest case of tuberculosis.
The Veterinarian continued that of all the diseases causing pathogens known
to man, 61% of them are known to affect both man and animals. "We refer
to them as zoonotic diseases. And currently Nigeria is ranked 4th in
the world. - behind India, Indonesia and China - with the highest cases
of tuberculosis based on a 2016 report of the World Health Organisation
(WHO)."
Meanwhile,
Alao disclosed that a global report conducted in 2014 by the National
TB and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) had it that over 600,000 new
cases of tuberculosis occurred in Nigeria.
"Brucellosis
- caused by Brucella abortus, an organism that is common in cattle -
is a common occurrence in herdsmen and abattoir workers who has shown
higher antibody titres for this organism; adding that this occurs via
the illicit handling of aborted foetuses by herdsmen or evacuated
foetuses from slaughtered cows at abattoirs.
Sadly,
he peaking further, he bemoaned that the disease in man often comes
with undulating fever and sweating. "People often mistake these symptoms
for malaria. it is also a cause of infertility. Salmonella disease -
typhoid fever - is known to affect 21.5 million people every year
globally with majority from poor under developed nations.
Alao
expressed: "Typhoid fever is a growing monster within Nigeria with
significant morbidity and human mortality.the organism can be found in
meat, egg and milk."
Now
with a vehement aim to effect a change like educate the public on the
health dangers of consuming unhygienically processed meat and meat
products, sensitising butchers and meat sellers alike on the dangers of
unwholesome practices in their slaughtering processes and sales of meat
and meat products, Alao added, "Although change won't come over night,
we shall continue our campaign and awareness programme."
The
Chairman suggested, however, that the meat produce for sale should be
neatly packaged, protected from flies and buyers robbing them with
hands.
"We
demand butchers to desist from unwholesome means of slaughtering and
processing of meat animals at our various slaughter houses and
abattoirs especially slaughtering of meat animals on bare floor. They
should embrace modern and hygienic process of slaughtering meat
animals."
Accordingly,
statistics shows that Lagos state slaughters about 6000 cattle daily
(aside sheep, goats and pigs). "But we have just 24 veterinarians in
Lagos state employment to supervise the slaughtering of these animals
and still conduct other duties."
Therefore,
for vets to effectively cover meat inspection demands of the state more
veterinarians needs to be engaged; adding that the government should
pay more attention to this problem in order to deliver a comprehensive
health package befitting of a mega city status such as Lagos state.
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