PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE OF MEAT INSPECTION.
(My Experience at Central Abattoir, Akinyele)
Veterinary public health (VPH) is an aspect of public health which involves the application of veterinary skills, knowledge and resources to ensure the protection and improvement of human health. In most countries, VPH activities comprise the surveillance, prevention and control of zoonoses, food hygiene and animal-related aspects of the protection and improvement of the environment.
Before now, I had always thought that every meat being sold at market places is fit for purchase and consumption since it has gone through thorough inspection, only to discover I was far from the truth. I also assumed that it was possible for the Veterinarian assigned to an abattoir to properly inspect every single animal that is being slaughtered by thorough inspection and scrutiny, but my assumptions seem not to exist.
Following the normal routine and procedures, the Veterinarian is expected to observe and inspect closely the quality of animals kept in the lairage, ensure proper antemortem inspection in order to prevent the slaughter of diseased animals that at the end gets into the public for consumption.
One of my thoughts also was that; there are implemented laws governing meat inspection and hygiene in every slaughterhouse ensuring that every animal to be slaughtered is not sick nor diseased, but healthy enough and fit for human consumption, while any butcher who violates any of these laws will be punished appropriately according to the law.
Unfortunately, my assumptions were all wrong, probably because I forgot to remember the fact that I am not in a system were everything goes on as planned. I am in a country where standing for what is right is seen as a cliché, where upholding firm principles and high moral standards is stereotypic, whereas bribery and corruption is at its peak.
All these became a reality when I started a Six-week Internship training at the central abattoir in Ibadan. During this period, I got to understand the indispensable role of public health in meat inspection, that meat inspection in an abattoir is an important veterinary public health function. The best person to supervise or carry out this function is a Veterinarian who has knowledge of animal diseases, as well as training in veterinary public health. I understood how crucial it is for every Veterinarian and public health worker to be firm, strategic, and not being overwhelmed by emotions during meat inspection, ensuring that every bad and diseased meat be condemned and destroyed, not minding if a whole carcass is condemned.
The role of a Public health worker in an abattoir is indispensable in ensuring that hygienic practices and cleaning are carried out. Meat passed for human consumption is handled in a hygienic manner; conditionally passed meat is treated to render it safe for human consumption. Condemned and contaminated material is correctly treated to render it safe and not be a hazard to humans or animals.
• control and eventual eradication of specific zoonoses.
• prevention of occupational hazards and diseases connected with live animals and their products.
• establishment of diagnostic, surveillance and information systems for zoonoses.
• control of animal populations that may serve as disease reservoirs for humans.
It is also important to know that the role of Public health Specific in veterinary food hygiene include:
• prevention and control of zoonoses and other diseases transmitted by food of animal origin;
• inspection of food premises, their operations and products, including processing, storage and distribution.
• supervision of abattoir hygiene.
• ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of meat.
• prevention and control of chemical residues in food, including veterinary drug residues.
• supervision of export and import of food of animal origin from the hygienic viewpoint.
• collaboration with epidemiological services in surveillance, data collection, evaluation and distribution of information.
• safe collection and disposal of dead animals, condemned meat and of other animal wastes, and the control of environmental pollution in animal settlements and animal industries.
Many zoonoses have not only a direct impact on human health, but also cause the loss of large quantities of food leading to food insecurity. Therefore, they are important economically, as well as socially. Improved human-animal-environment relationships are also extremely important for achieving an acceptable state of global health.
Effective control of zoonoses and other VPH problems cannot be achieved without significant primary health care contributions. This requires community education and participation in the prevention and control of zoonoses; in keeping animals healthy and productive, in producing abundant, sound food and in preparing and preserving it properly, in establishing and maintaining correct human-animal relationships and in protecting the environment so that it does not deteriorate to the disadvantage of humans and animals.
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