ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
MARKET INSPECTION
Market is a place where buying and selling takes place. It's a place that determines the level of healthiness of a community, state and nation via consumption of food (good or bad).
Market Inspection is the process of examining a market with identification of health nuisances/risks/hazards, stating and health educating the market people on the deleterious health effects and making recommendations on how to summarily or timely abate such health nuisance/risk/hazard, with view of a disease free society, promoting good health and prolonging lives.
On inspection of a Market, these are key areas to focus upon;
Proper Location/Siting -: A Market must be properly sited/located, it shouldn't be within an industrial environment nor should it be in proximity to dump site, rather should be in a central place.
Proper planning and setting -: A Market should be properly planned and organized. It should be divided into various sections like Meat section, clothe section, food stuff section, provision section, poultry section, etc. It should have enough spacing, well ventilated and lighted. Also, it should be properly constructed with good materials.
Provision for adequate portable water supply -: Water should be readily available for drinking, cleaning, washing, etc and such water should meet the standard for drinking water by WHO.
Proper drainage system -: There should be an ideal and proper flow of waste water via the drains into a large drain like river, etc. So as to avoid flood or effects of improper drainage system.
Provision for Sanitary conveniences -: Toilets and Bathroom should be adequate and properly located within a market place, for easy disposal of sewage.
Provision for Solid waste disposal -: There should be an assigned place for refuse collection and storage, before the final disposal or carriage by PSP or waste collectors. It should be a sanitary place and located on end of the market.
Provision for Fire fighting service -: There should be presence of fire fighting service for quick intervention on fire accident.
Provision for adequate security -: At least, a market should have a Police post for adequate security within the market.
Proper ventilation and lighting -: The market should be built in a way that allows proper ventilation and lighting (natural), proper spacing and sectioning.
Accessibility -: A Market should be accessible to buyers, sellers, suppliers, etc.
Provision for car park -: There should be a designated place for parking of vehicles.
Provision for proper Environmental Sanitation -: There should be provision for the highest promotion and maintenance of the cleanliness of the market at all time. A sanitation committee may be set up by the Market Heads to enforce non compliance with sanitation.
Etc.........
I'm EHO DANIEL
Environmental Health Practitioner
Scientist in making...