ABATTOIRS AND PUBLIC HEALTH

MONDAYÂ EDITORIAL

Health authorities could do more to improve the state of abattoirs

The findings by different studies keep pointing to one fact: the increasing health hazards in consuming the beef prepared in many parts of the country. This is because most abattoirs in the affected areas are in an unacceptable condition, with the beef most often left in open spaces and thus attracting all kinds of contamination.Â This phenomenon, as we have noted several times on this page, poses a clear and present danger to the health of Nigerians.

On several occasions, we have had course to express serious concerns over the manner of producing, handling and transporting beef from abattoirs to the different points of sale because they are inimical to the health of the final consumers. And there appears to be no credible step by the authorities to arrest the problem. This may also explain why members of the Nigerian business and political elite, as studies have shown, prefer imported, frozen poultry products, even when no one can guarantee the safety of these imported products.

Against the background that statistics indicate that Nigerians consume over 300 million kilogrammes of beef a year, the authorities should be serious by establishing modern and hygienic slaughter houses in every state of the federation. The health of every citizen should concern every responsible and responsive government, especially when it comes to what they daily consume. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many parts of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Except Lagos and few other states, which have made remarkable efforts towards ensuring a healthy and hygienic abattoir condition by upgrading some of their abattoirs over the years to suit their laws, in several states across the country, such facilities stink. In many of these states, some butchers are still killing cows and preparing their meatÂ on the wet, dirty, muddy floor. In many of these abattoirs, the vicinity is litteredÂ with heaps of waste materials. In fact, in most cases, it is almost as if the abattoir is synonymous with waste.

Meanwhile, after these animals are slaughtered, the fur is burnt off in the open, using firewood and lorry tyres, each producing smoke continuously on daily basis. These tyres constitute the greater part of the fuel. Apart from the hazard itÂ posesÂ toÂ theÂ healthÂ ofÂ consumers,Â theÂ practiceÂ also produces lots ofÂ smokeÂ thatÂ pollute theÂ area. The environmental implication of such practice is better imagined. In all, theÂ facilities of these abattoirs are generally being operatedÂ underÂ unhygienic conditions, mainly due to lack of certain basic amenities.

We therefore reinstate our position that the mannerÂ inÂ which animal carcasses are handled during slaughter,Â loading andÂ transportationÂ fromÂ theÂ abattoirÂ toÂ variousÂ pointsÂ of saleÂ must change.Â Indeed, almost as a matter of routine, majority ofÂ the butchers conveyÂ their meat on bicycles, motorbikes, motorised tricycles and sometimes on some rickety meat vans, under unhealthy conditions. The beef is simply packedÂ and transported without regard to safety measures. It may not be obvious but there are serious health consequencesÂ for the consumers of such exposed beef.

Although medical experts differ somewhat as to the exact causes of the cancer scourge in our country, there seem to be some agreement that the major cause is the habit of the people. Increased awareness campaigns, improvements in public health are all likely to lead to a decrease in the incidence of this killer disease. We therefore feel the general public as well as the critical stakeholders in the business should be adequately enlightened on how to handle beef. This should be the responsibility of the health and environment authorities at both the federal and state levels. By so doing, we will be able to save our people from cheap deaths.