Two health inspectors in Wau/Bulolo, PNG facilitated a one-week food safety training for 335 local mothers. A colorful ceremony was held where the mothers received certificates for successfully completing the training. The training aimed to educate the mothers on proper food handling and hygiene practices to prevent foodborne illnesses, especially in children. It covered topics such as food processing, sanitation and hygiene. The mothers found it very informative and said it improved their food handling techniques and confidence that consumers would remain healthy.

1. Date: September 13, 2016, 8:33pm
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Health inspectors facilitate training for Bulolo mothers
By BERNARD BIROP DWU JOURNALISM STUDENT
In efforts to encourage food hygiene and control foodborne diseases, two health inspectors had
taken the initiative to facilitate Food Handlers Safety (FHS) training for 335 local mothers in the
Wau/Bulolo urban LLG.
A colorful closing ceremony was held last Friday after one-week of training from September 2 to
September 9 and 335 mothers were given certificates for successfully completing the FHS
training.
The training was delivered by Wau/Bulolo district health inspectors Philip Ware and Geraldine
Maron with the support of the Wau/Bulolo urban LLG.
Ware said the lack of consideration on potential food safety issues has resulted in many deaths
from foodborne diseases especially among children under the age of 5 in district.
“That is why we provided this training to educate the mothers on food hygiene practices because
they (mothers) directly engages and involve in the preparation of food for the family,” Ware
said.
He said the training will help the mothers to ensure a healthy and safe environment when
handling food for their children and family.

2. He told the mothers to teach their families and others in the community about what they had
learnt to prevent foodborne diseases because prevention is always better than cure.
He said the training also targeted those involved in the preparation or service of food in the local
markets and food service facilities like Kai-bar.
“Many mothers within the Wau/Bulolo LLG usually take their garden supplies and cooked food
to sell at Bulolo therefore their conduct in food handling practices must be safe for consumers’
health,” Ware said.
The training covered topics such as human health, elementary hygiene, cause of food spoilage,
food processing, food premises, effective cleaning, sanitising, and maintenance of premises and
equipment
Bulolo women representative Sapume Kanawi said the training was very informative and she
learned a lot of new things during the one-week.
“Learning about food safety is important for anyone, not just the mothers or those who cook for a
living,” Kanawi said. She urges other young men and women and fathers to take the training
because it’s very informative.
Susan Solomon, a mother of two from Gawapu village also expressed that the training changed
many of her styles on how to handle food for market and her family as well.
“I feel confident that people who eat my cooking are not going to get sick, and the reputation of
my marketing and cooking will never be in jeopardy,” Solomon said this with excitement.
The mothers came as far as Bayune, Witipos, Katua, Bailis, Manki Tawa, Golden Pine, and other
villages within the Wau/Bulolo urban LLG. Ware said the next training will be held in a couple
of weeks’ time.