President Yoweri Museveni has advised Uganda health practitioners to be more proactive in informing the public about the dangers and solutions to the challenges posed by Aflatoxin virus found mostly in the pre harvest and post harvest of food systems.

The President was today officially opening the 2nd Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA) meeting at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe. The meeting is running under the theme ‘Tracking Commitments, Sustaining Implementation for Results and Impact.’  Uganda is hosting the African Union Commission arranged meeting for the first time.

PACA is a collaboration that aims at protecting crops, livestock, and people from the effects of Aflatoxins. The arrangement by PACA to combat the toxins is acknowledged as a major contribution towards improving food security, health, and trade across the African continent.

The President challenged senior government officials from African Member states particularly Uganda health practitioners to go out of their way and inform the public on the challenges and dangers of the virus.

“This is an issue of our people’s lives…why do the health authorities keep quiet about something like that?” he asked.

The prevalence of the toxins in the human body fluids can be very dangerous to a person’s health as it can cause liver cancer, immune suppression, memory loss and childhood stunting, among other diseases.

Ms. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, who is Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission, thanked President Museveni for the good leadership that has enabled Uganda to relate well with other countries. She appreciated his keen interest in ensuring that Ugandans feed themselves on healthy foods.

The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Vincent Sempijja, highly commended Uganda’s development partners for funding the meeting and the African Union Commission for giving Uganda the opportunity to host the meeting. ENDS

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