Zimbabwe: No Typhoid Fears, Farmers Assured

Source from:  The Herald 02/23/2012

TOBACCO farmers bringing in their produce for sale at the country's auction floors have given thumbs up to sanitary facilities there. Farmers interviewed yesterday said there are few informal food vendors, toilets are clean and tap water is available. Farmers at Millennium Tobacco Auction Floors, where informal food vendors could be seen preparing sadza, said they were forced to buy food from outside because the inside canteen had no food. "The food is not yet ready and some of us came last night. Obviously by this time we are hungry and need something to eat. That is why we turn to outside vendors," said Mr Takura Mahosho from Headlands. When The Herald left the floors at around 11am, the canteen was still preparing food for the farmers. At the Tobacco Sales Floor, municipal police could be seen milling around the premises to chase away vendors. Farmers were strictly buying food from canteens inside the floors. "We have not seen any vendors outside and we are buying our food from here. The toilets are clean and tap water is always available," another farmer Mr Onias Gororo said. Premier Tobacco Auction Floor chief executive, Mr Phelimon Mangena gave credit to the Zimbabwe Republic Police whose post is at the floor's entrance. "We have not seen any vendors here. Maybe the police are also doing their work," he said. At Boka Tobacco Auction Floors, only those selling drinks and bread could be seen at the entrance. The municipal flea market was closed with officials at the site citing incomplete sanitary projects. "We are expecting that by Wednesday water connections and toilets will be complete," said an official at the site. Harare is still trying to contain a typhoid outbreak that has so far claimed two lives and seen over a 1000 treated at municipal clinics since October last year. In light of this health challenge, City Health department had allayed its fears that poor sanitary conditions usually associated with auction floors could see spreading of the outbreak. According to an alert from the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, people should eat food while it is still hot and wash hands with ash or soap before handling food to limit chances of contracting typhoid or any other diarrhoeal diseases. Although all the auction floors had satisfactory sanitary conditions, non-had detergent on their sinks or taps. Farmers are being paid the day they deliver their crop. Enditem