Auki Market Vendors Equipped with Food safety and Hygiene Techniques

[Press Release]

Solomon Islands — "The training was an eye-opener for me,” said Alice O’ote’e, one of the 32 market vendors from Auki Central Market in Malaita Province who successfully completed a three day Food Safety and Hygiene training.

Participants with certificates along with Representives from the Malaita Provincial Goverment and Minstry of Health and Medical Services Malaita Province. Photo: UN Women

“So many times we ignore small things that can be done for food handling to be safe and hygiene for our families, business and the general public. I've learned from the training and my aim is to put into practice what I’ve learned to improve my home, kitchen and my business in cake making."

The Food Safety and Hygiene training was held from 22-24 May, facilitated by the Environmental Health Division under the Ministry of Medical and Health Services in Malaita Province and supported by UN Women’s Markets for Change project.

Gloria Siwainao, Chief (Acting) Environmental Health Inspector, Malaita Province, explained that: “if your food is not properly prepared or stored, it can make you and others sick, even causing death. But this is preventable.”

“This training will give you the skills to confidently organize, prepare and sell food without risking anyone’s health or your business’s reputation," Ms Siwainao said.

The Pure Food Act 1996 in Solomon Islands requires all food sellers in public spaces to undergo the Food Safety and Hygiene training and be issued with a certificate before they can sell cooked food. The requirements of the Pure Food Act 1996 will be reflected in the proposed Auki Market Ordinance.

Speaking during the presentation of certificates to participants, Director of Health for Malaita Province, Dr Henry Kako urged participants to use the knowledge they gained over the past three days, both in their home and in their business as food safety and hygiene is guided by the law, further adding that safe food leads to good health, and good business.

During the training, participants learned about causes of food borne illness, five keys to safe food, kitchen structure, design and layout, waste and pest control management, food and nutrition, roles of food handlers, health inspector and legislation.

Kristy Nowland, Project Manager for UN Women’s Markets for Change in Solomon Islands, said the project is committed to supporting initiatives such as this training, that will lead to the economic empowerment of women.

“Economic empowerment enables women to bring about positive changes in their own lives and their communities,” Ms Nowland said, adding that: “ensuring good health and improved business practices benefit both women vendors and consumers.”

In closing the training program, Provincial Secretary (Acting) for Malaita Provincial Government, Robert Wale Ferateilia congratulated the participants for successfully completing the training and encouraged them to practice what they learned to bring about change and difference in their homes, communities, Auki Market and Malaita as a whole.

UN Women’s Markets for Change (M4C) project is a key component of its Women’s Economic Empowerment programme. M4C is a six-year, multi-country initiative that aims to ensure marketplaces in rural and urban areas of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. A UN Women project, Markets for Change is principally funded by the Australian.