The roles of environmental health officers in ensuring effective market sanitation

Introduction

According to West African Health Examination Board [WAHEB[ (2009 as cited in Igoru et al., 2016) market is an open space or covered building set aside where people gather to purchase (sell, offer service or buy ) provision, good commodities and foods market is necessary in village town or city it help authorities to ensure the sale of commodities and food stiffs under sanitary condition

According to Obomeokpere (2016) market sanitation is concerned with care of the whole market environment it is also concerned with the sitting the layout of stalls the provision of sanitary facilities and the cleanness of the market (WAHEB, 200) generally sanitation is great weapon in the fight disease good sanitation improves quality of human life reduce death rate and increase life expectancy (WAHEB, 2009 as cited in Igoru et al., 2016). Market sanitation in a community is therefore impotent as it is the standard of delta of the community. The improvement of the sanitary condition of the market is the improvement of the well being of the people to neglect or allow fifth and overcrowding in the market is to allow for condition favorable for the spread of disease within the community (Obomeokpere, 2016)

Types of market

Market has been classified based on so many criterion based on civilization that are two types of market in Nigeria name traditional and modern market 130^th may hold daily or periodically on specific days (Abejagah et al., 2013). In terms of impacts on the environmental markets may be classified as small medium or large market small market usually severe local communities and may consist at just few stalls they are usually easy to keep clean at the end day transaction (Abejagah et al., 2013) medium market on the other hand serve a number of engorging communities while large markets are usually central contain many stalls and promote inter-township trade adequate provision of sanitary facilities required in medium and large market (Abejagah et al., 2013).

However, Obomeokpere (2016) categorized market into three namely:

Temporary market: These are found in remote area of our community where population density is very low and accessibility is very difficult. In fact during the raining season most of such market ceases to exist. Such market could also be found in the peripheral areas of our big town, cites and they mere open space with no shelter and are temporary; in fact they are removed at the end of the day mostly not recognized by authorities some are illegal and they constitution nuisance since majorities of them cannot be supervised by health authorities.
Semi permanent market: These are markets mostly found in the village and some town such market are mostly approved market and have two or more stalls erected by the local authorities. The rest stalls are normally erected by individuals which are temporary, mostly made with materials like thatches, corrugated irons and bamboos etc.
Permanent market: These are markets well designed and well constructed. They are usually markets constructed by local authorities, state and central government. They are the market in the big towns and cities, most of such market are modern when built.

Components of market sanitation

Sanitation of market is concerned with care of the whole market environment which deals with safety of all food stuff and cleanness of the market. Market sanitation in a community is therefore important as it help to improve the standard of health of the community. The improvement of the sanitary conditions of the market is the improvement of the well being of people, hence Obomeokpere (2016) viewed market sanitation as a measure of promoting the standard of health of the sellers and buyers. In carrying out market sanitation, various factors (components) must be considered which include:

Water sanitation (portable water supply)
Food sanitation
Drainage management
Solid waste management
Excreta and waste water management
Pest and vector control
Abattoir sanitation within the market
Sanitary inspection of stores

Water sanitation (potable water supply): Provision of adequate and safe water supply in a market in essential for drinking and cleansing in the market for effective sanitation e.g. tap water, well, etc.
Food sanitation: In inspecting market attention should be paid to wholesomeness of perishable food items can milk, meat, vegetable and rotten fruits etc.
Drainage management: There should be drainage system on both side of the market to allow free flow of water and to prevent flooding in the market
Solid waste management: There should be provision of sanitary waste in the market.
Solid waste water management: There should be provision sanitary waste bin. Market refuse bin should be disposed properly to keep it clean. In all stalls of the market, refuse bin should be provided.
Excreta and waste water management: There should be frequent, systematic and reliable waste collection and disposal in the market. There should have adequate latrine and urinals for male and female.
Pest and vector control: Measures should be on ground to control pest, rodent and vectors e.g. regular fumigation, rodent control to prevent pest infestation.
Abattoir: Abattoir sanitation within the market should be standard. Equipment and material for ante mortem, post mortem and regulat washing, cleansing equipment after slaughter food animals, proper inspection should be carryout on the food animals before consumption.
Sanitary inspection of stores: All the store in the market should be inspected by the health officer for detection of expired goods. All the stores should be swept regularly.

Objectives of market sanitation

It helps to ensure the safety of commodities and food staff.
It helps to improve quality of human life
It helps in preventing the spread of disease
It helps to improve the well-being of people in the market
It helps to increase the lifespan of the market
It helps to detect expired goods
It helps to reduce death rate
It helps to detect nuisance
To prevent public health hazard

Consequences of poor market sanitation

Poor market sanitation in an intractable problem in Nigeria and has contributed to the spread of infection disease and environmental degradation. To address the numerous problem of poor environmental sanitation in Nigeria the Federal Ministry of Environmental [FMOE] (2008) through the National Environmental Sanitation Policy identified market and abattoir sanitation as areas of concerns. This was sequel to the overwhelming sanitation problem in market and abattoirs that includes improper refused disposal, inadequate water supply and gross inadequacy of sanitary facilities that results in open defecation and urination, as well as overcrowding and exposure of food and meat to flies, rodent and contaminants .

FMOE (2008) also recently between hoverbed 2015 to April 2016, it was observed that Garri sellers could not sell their product due to refusal of buyer to buy Garri because they were afraid of been infected by Lassa fever, caused by Lassa virus that was transmitted by rats. The resultant effect was war against rats in major markets. Generally market occupy an important position in the lives of Nigerians and activities involved in buying and selling generate large quantities of solid waste which contain a large proportion of putrid vegetable and animal matter (Park, 2007).

Markets attract a large gathering of buyers and sellers and especially pre- school children who have accompanied their mothers to markets. The coming together of those set of persons in markets provide opportunities for the spread of communicable disease in considerable potential to reach epidemic dimension due to poor sanitation (Okojie, 2013). It is quite common to observed mountains of refuse at market places. The heaps of refuse provide excellent breeding ground for vectors of communicable disease include rodents, insects, etc. which increases the potential for the spread of infectious diseases such as cholera, dysentery, salmonellosis, botulism, etc. (Roserio & Jamias, 2010; Adesuwa, 2012). It was also acknowledged that many the diseases that affect Nigerians include malaria, tuberculosis, salmonellosis, cholera and diarrhea are due to unhealthy environmental conditions (Nigeria National Planning Commission [NNPC], 2009).

Heap of refuse in the market might also pose fire hazard apart from being eyesore and source of unpleasant odours. Very frequently, refuse is dumped in drainages or canals and along water courses with impurity. All these have unpleasant environmental consequences (Abejagah et al., 2013). Another common features of poor market sanitation in Nigeria is the gross inadequacy of sanitary facilities such as potable water, toilet and bathroom, refuse disposal bags, etc. Open urination and defecation therefore becomes common scenario (Adesuwa, 2012).

Furthermore, poor supervision of market by ill-trained, ill-equipped and corrupt officers lead to overcrowding as well as trading on access road within and outside the market. All these add to dangers that traders face. Blocked access roads within and its surrounding sometimes lead to unnecessary loss of lives and properties in events of emergency, evacuation during fire accidents (Adesuwa, 2012). In addition, market and abattoirs are often built without proper layout and where such layout exist, they have been distorted, lack of sanitary facilities such as adequate water supply, toilets, refuse disposal bags, incinerators and proper drainage, all increase the chances of contamination of meat meant for human consumption.

Measures to be taken to maintain the standard of market sanitation

The control of primary source of the contaminated place in the market
Environmental sanitation on through regular fumigation, sweeping and clearing of weeds.
Regular inspection of commodities and food stuffs
Enforcement of public health law to the buyer and seller
Health education of individuals in the market
Provision of sanitary facilities

Conclusion

Market sanitation is concerned with the sanitation is condition for improvement of well being of the people it also concerned with care and cleanliness of the market environment. Proper siting, proper layout of store, provision of sanitary facilities with a view of promoting the standard of health of the buyers and sellers for this reason, market sanitation is necessary to be practices by individuals in the market. In order to achieve clean and safe environment for food stuff and guarantee a healthy living for individuals in the market .

Recommendations

Having known market, types of market, component of market sanitation, objective of market sanitation and measure to be taken to ensure standard of market sanitation. I hereby recommend that the following measures should be adopted:

regular fumigation under the supervision of health officers
regular cleaning of the market
all expired goods should be condemn
health education of individuals in the market on the need for regular sanitation
regular inspection of commodities and food stuff by health officers.

References

Abejahgah, C., Eluromma, E., Aigbiremolen, A,O., Abah, S. O., Awunor, S. N., Duru, C. B. & Okah, E. C. (2013). Market sanitation: A case study of Oregbeni Market, Benin City. International Journal Basic Applied and Innovative Research, (2), 25-31

Adesuwa, O. E. (2012). Policy guidelines on market and abattoir sanitation. Nigerian Sunday Observer, 34 (20), 7

Amadi, A. N. (2011). Environmental health and sanitation as prevention. [24^th Public Lecture]. Owerri: Federal University of Technology.

Federal Ministry of Environment (2008). Policy guidelines on market and abattoir sanitation. Abuja Nigeria: FMOE

Nigeria National Planning Commission (2009). National economic and development strategy. Abuja: Author

Obomekpere, N. O. (2016). Sanitary inspection of premise. Benin City, Edo State: Ambik Press.

Okojie, O.H. (2013). That they may prosper and be in good health [inaugural lecture series 130]. Benin City: University of Benin.

Park, K. P. (2007). Textbook of preventive medicine (19^th ed.). Jabalpar, India: M/s Banarsidas Blanont.

Roserio V. T. & Jamias, S. B. (2010). Village-level knowledge, attitude and practices on solid waste management in Sta-Rosa City. Laguna, Philippine. Journal of Environmental Science Management, 13(1), 35-51.

West Africa Health Examination Board (2009). Water and building sanitation (2^nd ed.). Lagos: WAHEB.