Anambra Commissioner Urges Focus on Food Safety Standards

Barr Chijiok Ojukwu, the Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, called on Environmental Health Officers to focus on food safety and abattoir sanitation, emphasizing their core public health responsibilities. This appeal was made during a meeting with the Anambra State Chapter of the Environmental Health Officers Association Nigeria (EHOAN).

Ojukwu highlighted the statutory mandate of Environmental Health Officers, which extends beyond construction-related activities to include food product sanitation and disease prevention. Mr.

Ikechukwu Obasoanya, the chairman of the association, expressed concerns regarding the limited involvement of Environmental Health Officers in construction activities and noted a significant personnel shortage across local government areas, particularly in Idemili North, where only three officers are available. Ojukwu warned of the health risks posed by poor sanitary conditions in slaughterhouses and food establishments and clarified that Environmental Health Officers lack the legal authority to seal construction sites without proper sanitary clearance.

He pledged to strengthen collaboration with the association and engage relevant authorities to recruit and deploy more officers across the state.