The absence of toilets and other sanitary facilities in some local and traditional markets in the country has been a serious public health hazard and concern.
The unpleasant situation is fuelling Open Defecation (OD) in many markets as traders and buyers are denied places of convenience, forcing them to ease themselves in the open.
Besides food contamination, pollution of water sources and potential outbreaks of communicable diseases, the stench from faecal matter always hangs in the air in many of the major markets.
That creates an unbearable and uncomfortable environment for traders and visitors in general.
As buyers surf through the market daily for shopping, few think about the basic human need for sanitary facilities.
In reality, many markets lack sanitary facilities, not even a toilet.
Market in Ghana
Largely, most markets in the country are managed by women traders, and their daily contributions to food stability, resilience, and security remain unparalleled.
Interestingly, despite women’s role in nation-building, there seems to be a dominant negative discourse.
Health crisis looms among market women due to the lack of toilets and other related sanitary facilities in the market, as some of them are even forced to use their menstrual hygiene in unsanitary conditions, thereby putting their health and dignity at risk.
Health Risk
Food poisoning and contamination are challenges from both formal and informal sectors; however, some Ghanaians pay less attention to foodborne diseases, a major factor in food insecurity.
Globally, food safety remains a major concern, and harnessing food safety is now critical as foodborne illnesses compete with other killer diseases.
OD-spread diseases include cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea, which are deadly.
Environmental pollution sadly sets in when untreated human waste contaminates soil, water sources and air, harming ecosystems and wildlife.
Besides, traders and market women suffered huge economic losses, as the stench that emanates from an unsanitary environment drives away customers, taking a huge toll on the economic livelihoods of many women traders.
An issue of dignity and safety concerns arises when women and children are forced to compromise their dignity and safety, leading to urinary tract infections, reproductive tract infections, and other sanitation-related diseases.
Scenario
A disturbing, unacceptable and unfortunate incident occurred at the Sunyani local market, attracting buyers’ attention.
The trader who sells salted pork feet and beef swatted, eased herself into a half-bottled water container behind her shop and afterwards disposed of the urine in a gutter around her shop.
In the full glare of the buyers, she never bothered to wash or sanitise her hands and attempted to serve the customers. In fact, her bad and unsanitary attitude raises serious concerns about food safety.
Concerns
Speaking in an interview, a trader at the market, only known as Madam Awurama, described such unsanitary practices as common and normal in the market and condemned the practice, which she added exposed unsuspecting customers and buyers to various health risks.
“This is very bad because that practice poses a serious risk to public health”, he stated and called for urgent measures to ensure that traders and market women adhered to food safety practices.
Obviously, that incident highlights the need for intensified education and training on food safety and proper sanitation practices among traders and market women.
Another trader, Madam Adom Agyeiwaa, underlined the need to train market women and food vendors on food handling and good sanitation practices, worrying that “some of the market women intentionally dispose of urine and faecal matter into open gutters in the market”.
“It is difficult to stand the stench that emanates from the gutters in the wet seasons”, she stated, saying, however, that “as you stay for a while, you become used to it”.
Madam Agyeiwaa admitted that OD was a bad practice; the traders had no option because of the lack of toilets and related sanitary facilities in the market, saying, “We can’t leave our shops and walk distances to attend to the nature call”.
“The situation is even worsened among some women traders who bring their children to the market. When their children defecate, they wrap the matter and put it under the tables they sell”.
Way forward
The lack of awareness creation remains a major cause of food contamination as many traders handle food carelessly.
Many food items are exposed to dirt, dust, and heat, with pastries like bread, cakes, and cookies being the worst affected.
Public awareness must be intensified among traders and market women to enlighten them about the dangers of exposing food.
They also require knowledge of modern food packaging methods to protect themselves and consumers in general.
Due to their roles, food handlers must be more enlightened on the risks of food contamination and also sensitise on food safety and personal hygiene.
Convincingly, markets play an integral role in economic development; however, if they are not properly managed, they could create an economic and health mess for the nation.
This calls for the need to enhance collaboration between the government and the community in building and maintaining sanitary facilities in the markets to promote proper waste management and best sanitation practices.
It is also imperative to intensify public education on food safety and good sanitation practices like hand washing with soap under running water, and the frequent use of hand sanitisers.
In conclusion, the lack of toilet facilities in the various local markets poses serious health hazards, and efforts ought to be made to make those facilities easily accessible in the market.
That will greatly create a healthier, safer and more dignified environment for all.