Two projects of German International Governmental Organisation, Welthungerhilfe have celebrated World Food Safety Day on Monday 7th June 2021 at the Joi Community, Koya Chiefdom in the Kenema District.
The Linking Agriculture, Natural Resources Management and Nutrition (LANN+) funded by GIZ (SLE 1087) and LANN SLE 1084 funded by Irish Aid, partnered to celebrate this Day by providing a platform for farmers to have vital information on local food varieties and the need to keep their food safe and hygienic.
With this year’s theme being “Safe food now, for a better tomorrow. Everyone’s Responsibility”, the Gender and Child Protection Officer, who also doubles as the Food, Nutrition Safety Officer of the Kenema District Council, Abibatu Amara, explained about the various classes of food and their positive impact on the immune system of human beings including the local farmers.
She explained that there are foodstuffs meant for energy, growth and health, while stressing that the people should ensure they give the right food to their younger children to ensure proper growth.
“Pumpkin is very nutritious and boosts your immune system and provides needed vitamin C to your body,” Abibatu stated.
The District Agriculture Officer of Kenema, Philip Conteh, in his statement, urged the local farmers not to always sell the food they produce, but keep the largest quantity for themselves and family to eat. He stressed that meat is very good for elderly people and the young for them to grow well. Philip Conteh assured of his Ministry’s support to farmers in the district to boost food production.
“Without food there would always be health problems,” the Kenema District Agriculture Officer stated.
Gospell Matondi, Head of Programmes for Welthungerhilfe, in his statement during the occasion, said that the celebration is very key, as part of WHH’s effort to compliment the efforts of the government to fight hunger. He noted that the best way to ensure that food is safe, is to produce and cook it well.
“When you produce, you would not cook bad food for yourself,” Gospell stated.
He went on to further state that he is impressed with the knowledge of the people about local foodstuffs that can add nutrients to their bodies, while highlighting that WHH is committed to continue working with the Government of Sierra Leone in the remotest parts of the country to help communities out of poverty. He stressed on the need for local farmers to always ensure food diversity.
Paul J. Bassie, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, doubling also as Deputy Head of Project of SLE 1084, said that the programme is geared towards educating and sensitizing the people on the need to keep their food safe and healthy, as they are the producers of the food.
“That is the reason we have invited all relevant stakeholders to get the message of ensuring clean and safe food in their homes and communities at all times,” Paul Bassie said.
Hawa Bockarie, the Manager of WHH LANN+ project (SLE 1087), stated that it is the responsibility of all to ensure a healthy and safe food is available in their homes. She reechoed government’s commitment to helping local farmers with implements and equipment to engage in agriculture.
“Unclean and unsafe food must not be consumed, as it would lead to illnesses like cholera and the like,” Hawa Bockarie stated.
Councillor Aminata Rogers of Ward 33 in Koya Chiefdom, Kenema District, praised and acknowledged the significant contribution of WHH in their communities in terms of training of farmers on nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation. She urged the people to make good use of the numerous trainings offered by the German INGO and remember that the donor support would not last forever.
“This Day is very historic because we have never had such knowledge about food except through the intervention of Welthungerhilfe,” Councillor Rogers maintained. Highlights of the celebration was the display of various local foodstuffs, whose nutritional value were explained by Abibatu Amara, the Food and Nutrition Security focal person of the Kenema District Council.