The International Livestock Research Institute in collaboration with Bungoma County Veterinary Services Department has launched free training sessions on hygiene for slaughter house workers in randomly selected slaughter houses and slabs in the county.
The Kimilili training held on Friday saw managers and over twenty slaughter house workers benefit from knowledge on personal hygiene, equipment cleaning, storage, and handling, as well as meat handling, cleaning, and transportation.
Led by Dr. Wechabe Simiyu, Sub County Veterinary Officer Tongaren, the team of researchers and veterinarians demonstrated steps on how to properly wash hands, flay, store meat, and clean the floor after every animal slaughtered in selected facilities.
“Food safety is key, but producing meat in a hygienic manner is vital. We greatly appreciate ILRI and other stakeholders who have joined hands to make this training a success,” said Dr. Simiyu.
Kimilili slaughter house manager Aaron Nyongesa couldn’t hide his gratitude as he received tools of work as a gift from Lillian Otoigo, Research Assistant at ILRI.
“We have been gifted pails, brushes, washing liquids, and aqua guard to enable us to better our services to the community we serve. We shall diligently adhere to the teachings we’ve received today and put them into practice hence forth,” reiterated Nyongesa.
Rajab Sichangi, one of the longest-serving workers, acknowledged having learned a lot from the training and urged the county government to hold more of such sessions.
“We have been taught extensively about personal cleanliness and general slaughter house hygiene, how to handle meat before and after slaughter, and even how to package it for transport,” noted Sichangi.
Nancy Masika, another slaughter house worker, upheld that they will heed the teachings and adhere to top hygienic regulations for their own benefit and that of the community.
The same session was held at Chwele, Mayanja, Dorofu and Namwacha slaughter houses under the leadership of Dr. Richard Barasa, Sub County Veterinary Officer Kabuchai, where over twenty workers benefited.
The training is set to continue for the next three months, with the team so far having reached Kamukuywa, Chwele and Kimilili.
