NAN-AE-8
Meat
By Ginika Okoye
Abuja, July 26, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government says it has trained no fewer than 50 handlers and butchers on hygienic practices in processing meat.
Dr Olaniran Alabi, the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Veterinary and Public Health Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Alabi said the training was aimed at sensitising handlers and butchers on proper handling of animals before and after slaughter.
He said this was to avoid transfer of diseases from animals to humans.
Cue in audio (Alabi)
“For us to have wholesome meat, the processes and the handling has to be done in an hygienic way.
“And for us at the federal level, we try to set the standards that should be followed and from time to time, we try to train some of these abattoir workers and the butchers on good hygienic practices.
“And very recently we trained some butchers in Suleja abattoir and Karu abattoir on good hygienic practices.
“We trained more than 50 on how to handle meat, separate dirty processes from clean processes so that the meat that gets to the public is safe for consumption.’’
Cue out audio
He said that the Federal Government had also trained some of the youths on how to handle some of the animal by- products.
According to him, the training will enable the youth across the country to become self-employed.
The CVO advised meat handlers and butchers to adhere strictly to the operational standards of the Federal Government to prevent the spread of animal diseases to humans. (NAN)
GINI/LAB/YEE
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Edited by Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim