By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to ensure food safety in public schools as the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District I, Dr. (Mrs.) Idowu Olufunke Oyetola, attended the ongoing medical screening and seminar for food vendors at Government Senior College, Agege.
The exercise, a collaborative initiative between Lagos State Education District I and Lagos State Health District I, is aimed at ensuring that food vendors operating within schools meet required health and hygiene standards to safeguard the wellbeing of learners and the wider school community.
Speaking during the programme, Oyetola stressed the importance of regular health screening for food handlers, noting that the initiative aligns with the state government’s commitment to promoting safe and healthy school environments.
She said that school food vendors play a critical role in the daily wellbeing of students, adding that maintaining strict hygiene and health standards is essential to preventing foodborne illnesses and ensuring uninterrupted learning.
According to her, the screening exercise is designed not only to assess the health status of vendors but also to educate them on best practices in food preparation, storage, personal hygiene, and sanitation.
“The health of our learners remains a top priority. Safe food handling within school premises is non-negotiable because it directly impacts the physical and cognitive development of our students,” she said.
Medical personnel at the event conducted various checks, including blood pressure monitoring, general physical assessments, and health counselling sessions for participating vendors.
The seminar also focused on food safety awareness, emphasizing the dangers of contamination, poor sanitation, and unsafe handling practices with officials from Health District I noting that preventive healthcare remains one of the most effective tools for reducing disease outbreaks in schools and communities.
The initiative comes amid increased regulatory oversight by the Lagos State Government on food vendors operating in public schools. In May, the government warned vendors to strictly comply with approved health and safety guidelines, while school principals were directed to ensure full compliance within their respective schools.