Global Friday Presents
Dr. Emmanuel Chilanga
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
University of Northern British Columbia

Abstract: Food and waterborne diseases such as cholera are a major public health problem in African cities. Residents of secondary cities are often more at risk due to relatively low capacity for municipalities to provide hygiene infrastructure and to enforce food safety regulations. This study aimed to explore underlying factors that are associated with hygienic practices among food traders in Mzuzu, Malawi and Dschang, Cameroon. A multistage cross-sectional study design was conducted to sample 497 food traders in Mzuzu and 848 traders in Dschang. A questionnaire was administered to obtain data related to food safety practices and resources, knowledge and sociodemographic characteristics of participants. Problems revealed by the survey included a lack of the following: knowledge about food safety regulations; toilet and hand washing facilities; waste bins and health inspections. The study suggests poor compliance of food hygiene practices among food traders. It highlights the lack of adequate action by the municipal government in educating food traders and enforcing food safety regulations.
Keywords: Food safety; Public Health; Urban food systems; urban planning; Cameroon; Malawi

Speaker's Bio: Emmanuel Chilanga is an Assistant professor in the School of Social Work at The University of Northern British Columbia. He holds a PhD and master’s degrees in social work from McGill University, a Master of Science degree in Geography from University of Western Ontario and a bachelor’s degree in Education from University of Malawi. Emmanuel’s primary research focuses on community organizing to examine and address the determinants of poor child and maternal health, household food insecurity, Intimate partner violence, and to explore COVID-19 community recovery strategies in Sub Saharan Africa. He also does research in finding innovative Social work field education models in Canada and Africa.
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