LAGOS SCHOOL DISTRICT HOLDS SEMINAR FOR FOOD VENDORS TODAY.

      The Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District IV, Sabo-Yaba, Mrs. Lola Are-Adegbite has charged food vendors of 93 schools from Apapa, Mainland and Surulere zones of the district to ensure total hygiene is met in food service delivery in the schools.

Mrs. Are-Adegbite, while speaking at a sensitization seminar for food vendors, themed: “Towards Optimum Food Safety Service Delivery”, held at New Era Girls High School in Surulere, said food vendors are not expected to do business the usual way, but the right way of putting cleanliness and total hygiene in place.

She explained that the programme is essential for the vendors because they are as important as teachers in the school, adding that they contribute to the physical development and well-being of the students more than their classroom teachers and parents.

Are-Adegbite urged the food vendors to improve on food preparation and services in their respective schools bearing in mind that children who patronize them are equally theirs and that they are part of the school system.

She, however, expressed optimism that food and nutrition-related illnesses and diseases will be far from the schools after the seminar which is targeted at making the vendors catalysts of the war against health threat to students in the schools.

One of the speakers at the seminar, Prince Kosoko Adesegun appealed to vendors to examine and ensure that they are healthy before going to school to sell to the students.

He asserted that a sick vendor or one with wounds, sores or injuries can endanger the health of all those who patronize her, noting that illness can easily be transferred by a sick vendor to students in the process of selling food to them.Responding on behalf of others, Mrs. Khadijat Jonas, a participant at the seminar and food vendor commended the District, especially the Tutor-General for organizing the seminar and expressed gratitude to the District for appreciating their services to schools.