Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Foodborne disease is a global public health problem, with the highest burden in Africa. Food safety is a challenge, and of major concern in rural South Africa (SA). Study areas included three rural villages in the Eastern Cape Province, SA. Interviews of eighty-seven household heads from the villages, and screening of clinic registers for foodborne disease cases during the same time period at the clinics serving these villages was done. Twenty seven percent of household members fell ill from foodborne diseases. Fifty percent of those ill with foodborne diseases did not seek medical treatment for their illness. Treatment was provided to 46% at primary healthcare clinics. Examination of the clinic registers reported four cases of foodborne disease only. Prevalence of foodborne diseases in rural villages in the Eastern Cape, SA is high; records in clinic registers are low indicating a gap in the health care system. Lack of food safety regulations leads to foodborne disease and consumption of contaminated food. South Africa has an inadequate capacity to forecast and track foodborne disease. Outbreaks of foodborne disease, across provinces, particularly amongst schoolchildren are common. Reliable surveillance systems are important for systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data essential to planning, implementation and evaluation of public health practice and the timely dissemination of this information for public health action is integral. Current food safety and quality control systems in South Africa are fragmented, with different departments administering the implementation of various regulations determined by different pieces of legislation.