XN000022-1985-01-20 — Page 11

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 1985

IN ADDITION, STAFF OF THE SECTION REGULARLY RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR TALKS ON ENVIRONMENTAL, PERSONAL AND FOOD HYGIENE TO STUDENT GROUPS.

BUT THE WORK OF THE SECTION DOES NOT END AT THE SCHOOL GATES. IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1984. A RECORD TOTAL OF 9 100 ADULTS ATTENDED THE HUNDREDS OF TALKS, SEMINARS, LECTURES AND DISCUSSION GROUPS ORGANISED BY THE SECTION TO MEET SPECIAL NEEDS. MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING 2 775 CAME FROM RESTAURANTS AND OTHER FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, WERE GROUP LEADERS IN THE IR TRADES OR PROFESSIONS.

SAYS MR TAM: +WE REGARD THE FOOD INDUSTRY AS THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT TARGET GROUP IN OUR CAMPAIGN TO PROPAGATE HEALTH EDUCATION BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL HARM THAT CAN BE DONE IF FOOD OPERATORS ARE NOT BRIEFED ON PROPER HYGIENIC PRACTICES.

+WE HOLD REGULAR SEMINARS ON SUCH SUBJECTS AS FOOD POISONING, CLEAN FOOD PRODUCTION, THE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF PREMISES, AND PERSONAL HYGIENE. FOOD INDUSTRY WORKERS CAN ATTEND AT NO COST. UP TO NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, 30 OF THESE SEMINARS WERE HELD.+

TODAY THERE ARE SOME 7 500 FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS REGISTERED IN THE URBAN DISTRICTS ALONE, SERVING A MASSIVE DAILY CLIENTELE. THUS, IMPROPER FOOD HANDLING IN THESE PLACES COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PROBLEMS CAUSED BY EATING UNWHOLESOME FOOD.

THE TALKS, SEMINARS AND LECTURES THE SECTION REGULARLY ORGANISES FOR SCHOOLS AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY AND SERVICE GROUPS ARE DESCRIBED BY MR TAM AS PART OF THE +PERSUASIVE APPROACH+.

HE ADDS THAT HIS STAFF OF 20 WELCOME THE BACKING OF SOME 700 DISTRICT HEALTH INSPECTORS WHO IMPLEMENT THE +ENGINEERING APPROACH+ BY CORRECTING UNHYGIENIC PRACTICES AND REPORTING ON UNSANITARY CONDITIONS THEY DISCOVER IN THE IR INSPECTIONS OF FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS AND THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT.

+ THE DISTRICT HEALTH INSPECTORS ARE VERY MUCH THE WATCHDOGS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AS THEY ARE CONCERNED NOT ONLY WITH FOOD HYGIENE BUT ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AS WELL, + MR TAM POINTS OUT,

+AND THEY DON'T JUST ENFORCE THE LAW -- THEY SPREAD THE SAME MESSAGE AS OURSELVES IN THE ADVICE THEY GIVE TO CATERERS, TRADERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. +

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