Calabar – Some resident of Calabar have advised butchers to maintain a high standard of hygiene in the abattoirs in the city.
The residents, who made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Sunday, said this was to prevent customers from contracting food-borne diseases.
They said that the state of the abattoirs located in Marian Market, Nassarawa settlement, Army Barracks and Ikot Ansa Area were worrisome.
Mrs Pauline Okeke told NAN that the Marian Market abattoir had been in sorry state as the butchers had failed to keep it clean.
Okeke enjoined the butchers to remember that the meat processed there was consumed by human beings.
She advised them to keep it clean to avoid outbreak of food-borne diseases in the area.
“This abattoir has been neglected for a long time and the concerned authorities should ensure effective supervision of the facility to ensure high standard of hygiene.
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“Government should ensure effective enforcement of regulations guiding the operation of abattoirs,” Okeke said.
Mr Peter Oko said abattoirs should have adequate water supply and effective channel for their daily operation.
Oko told NAN that the abattoir at the Army Barracks had a very poor water system, and called for the reconstruction of the facility.
“Most abattoirs in this city are in open and filthy environment infested with flies. The meat is conveyed in dirty wheel barrows, commercial motorcycles and other vehicles.
“If you visit these abattoirs, you may stop eating meat. Workers in our abattoirs must imbibe the culture of hygiene,” Oko advised.
Mrs Uduak Inyang told NAN that the abattoir at Nassarawa settlement was very filthy, and appealed to the butchers to keep the place clean.
A veterinary doctor, Effa Arikpo, said that operators of abattoirs ought to maintain high standard of hygiene because the meat processed there was for human consumption.
Arikpo said that if facilities were kept clean, cases of food-borne disease would be minimised.
He also advised butchers in the state to always ensure they purchased healthy cows for slaughtering, pointing out that some diseases could be contracted from infected animals. (NAN)
