DILI, 29 june 2021 (TATOLI)– The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) together with partners celebrate World Food Safety Day virtually.
WHO also commemorates World Food Safety Day on june 7 every year. This commemoration began in 2019 and was initiated by the United Nations General Assembly on december 20, 2018.
This year WHO and its partners are celebrating the third of World Food Safety Day, on theme is ‘Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow’ or which means ‘Safe Food for a Healthier Tomorrow’. The celebration of World Food Safety Day aims to increase public awareness of food issues.
It is most important to ensure people’s awareness of food insecurity can have a bad impact on people’s health and it is related to human health and the economy. Insecurity food also has an impact on waste problems. In fact, in many underdeveloped countries cases of hunger are getting higher.
The Vice Minister of Health, Bonifacio Mau Coli dos Reis, thanked and acknowledged the efforts and support of United Nations Agencies such as WHO, FAO, WFP, UNICEF and the entire staff of the ministry’s directors.
“The issue is the responsibility of all parts and not even the Ministry of Health’s duty, all members of ministries such as Agriculture and Fisheries, Education, Industry and AIFAESA are in responsibility to maintain food safety for the community,” Bonifacio explained through his speech at the virtual World Food Safety Day event today.
Everyone must commit to maintaining food and nutrition security in Timor-Leste and promoting local food and promoting domestically processed products.
The representative of WHO, Arvind Mathur said, in 2020, the World Health Assembly will further adopt a decision to strengthen food safety efforts to reduce the burden of foodborne diseases.
WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Security Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations.
“Although 7 of june has left behind, we consume ‘food’ every day and food safety cannot be ignored one day a year. It happens every day, and we must be more alert and aware of this issue,” explained Arvind.
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Journalist: José Belarmino de Sá
Editor: Rafy Belo
