Food vendors in Ablekuma North go through medical screening

The Environmental Health Department of the Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly has embarked on an exercise to take all food vendors in the municipality through medical screening.

The aim is to ensure that food vendors do not transmit diseases like typhoid fever, hepatitis "B" and worm infestation to consumers.

Madam Harriet Krakue, the Municipal Environmental Health Director disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a screening exercise for food vendors at Odorkor in Accra.

Madam Krakue said all the 12 electoral areas would be covered and so far 1,321 vendors were screened.

Out of the figure, the Director said 25 vendors have reacted to suspected cases of typhoid fever and hepatitis “B" and have been referred for further tests.

The 25, Madam Krakue said, had meanwhile been stopped from selling food to the public and requested to send their test results to her office for scrutiny.

Field officers from her department she said would be monitoring the 25 to ensure that they did not sell.

Those found to be medically fit, Madam Krakue said would be given Health Certificates by her department valid for one year.

She said so far food vendors in the various electoral areas screened were Darkuman East and West 401, Kwashieman 229, Awoshie 283, Sakaman 159 and Odorkor 224.

Madam Krakue said food vendors selling near open drains were advised to relocate, while recalcitrant ones would be stopped from selling.