Don't consume food badly conserved - Dr Jude Ngu Achidi

People sell many food items on the streets of Yaounde, such as groundnuts, sweets, puff-puff, soya and bread exposed to sunlight and dust. How dangerous is the consumption of these products to human health?

The health hazards associated with the consumption of food items such as puff-puff, groundnuts, sweets, bread, soya etc exposed to dust, sunlight and others are of real concern.  Microbes and dust settle on them and when consumed could lead to diseases, some of which are deadly. Gastroenteritis, salmonellosis, helminthiasis (infestation with different kinds of worms) are some of the problems that could be caused by eating dirty foodstuff.

What medical advice can you give to people when faced with such food items?

People should be careful when consuming these food items and should constantly check on the methods of conservation. It is better not to consume food items badly conserved.

The current atmospheric condition (Harmattan) makes Yaounde quite dusty and windy, although characterised by much sunshine. What are the possible health dangers people face under such weather conditions?

The Harmattan which comes along with a lot of dust, cold winds and bright sunlight has health effects on the population such as cold, flu, fever, upper respiratory tract infections and other irritations. Besides, radiations from the sun can be harmful to the skin and eyes. Thankfully, at the moment there is talk on COP 21 Climate Change summit in Paris which just ended. I am very certain that meaningful conclusions have been taken to make our planet better for future generations.

What advice to those who are already suffering from a cold, cataract and other ill hazards as a result of the season?

People should wear appropriate clothing, reduce as much as possible dust and other irritants from surfaces of areas that are habitable and avoid as much as possible direct exposure to sunlight. Those who are sick should seek medical attention and educate others on the health hazards of harmattan. The advice to those already suffering from a cold, catarrh and other health problems is to seek treatment, dress properly, protect themselves from dust, clean living environment effectively and avoid exposure to factors likely to cause bodily harm.