POOR FOOD STORAGE IN SCHOOLS ACROSS ACHOLI SUB-REGION WORRIES UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

By Jimmy Komakech

Gulu City

The Improper food storage facilities in most schools within Acholi sub region has been cited as one of the major challenges affecting food safety and quality of food being consumed by the learners in schools.

The concern came up during a recent standardization engagement organized by Uganda National Bureau of standards that attracted school headteachers, teachers and some local leaders in west Acholi districts held in Gulu city.

Dorothy Nabatanzi, an educationist questioned the practice by some schools of putting paraffin in the beans as preservative. “I always hear that some schools are using paraffin as preservative in beans, is it scientifically proven?,  I think this is a bad practice and it can endanger the lives of the children she asked whether the science works in that regard and it is recommended for uses in schools,” she questioned.

Cankara Pido, a teacher from Koch Goma SS in Nwoya district disclosed that the food stores in most schools are not properly built and that can cause food poison.  “Schools are struggling to properly store food because most schools don’t have proper stores,” he noted.

Walter Nyeko Otii, the head teacher of St Joseph`s College Layibi says that the nature of food stores in schools alone is not standard as most of the schools are not spacious enough and they end up storing food items on bare ground. He stresses that there is a great need for safeguard at the time of entrance and exit of food items in the school.

Francis Opiyo, the dean of Students Gulu University urged the schools with farms to follow the standard and make sure that the food items are safe for consumption by the students.

Recommended grain storage
 
Paul Gita, working with Feed the Future says food safety should be taken seriously by both the general public and school authorities by always checking for the UNBS distinctive marks whenever they are buying cereals for consumption.

Patricia Bagaine Ejalu, the Deputy Executive Director Uganda National Bureau of standards implored different learning institutions in Gulu and the entire region to approach the bureau`s regional branch in Gulu city so that their store managers are trained as they plan to meet food store keepers soon on food safety.  

Proper food storage helps to preserve the quality and nutritional value of the food and also helps make the most of food items stored by preventing spoilage. Additionally, proper food storage can help prevent diseases caused by harmful bacteria.

COVER PHOTO: Photo moment of the participants after the engagement By Jimmy Komakech