The Osun Homegrown School Feeding and Health Programme (OMEALS) on Monday, November 22, Commenced a free medical test and training on personal hygiene environment sanitation of food its vendors across the state.
The program which took place at Anthony Udofia Primary School, Dada Estate Area, Osogbo was aimed at determining the health status of the vendors under the agency and to increase their knowledge on personal hygiene.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Gboyega Oyetola on OMEALS, Alhaja Fauziyat Folakemi Olaniyan in her welcome address said the programme is part of Governor Oyetola’s grand plans to ensure qualify service delivery among the vendors.
She said other programmes approved by the Governor include the bi-annual deworming exercise for pupils who are beneficiaries of the programme.
She added that the Governor also graciously approves the exercise to be free as opposed to payment of N1000 that vendors did pay in the past. She called on the participants to made judicious use of the opportunity presented by the exercise.
Olaniyan said, “The School Feeding Programme in the State is one of the State Government Programmes where government is committing a huge amount of money in reaching the people at the grassroot through feeding of school pupils in Public Primary Schools in the State.
In November,2019, the administration of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola successfully recruited two thousand, two hundred and seven (2,207) women into the School Feeding Programme. Apart from recruitment, the State Government also procured Cooking Utensils for them as a way of empowering them.
“Furthermore, the State Government also embarked on regular Deworming Exercise for the pupils to improve their health, promote mental and physical development which enhanced their academic performance.
“Today’s training programme and medical tests for the Food Vendors is aimed at knowing their health status in order to improve on them.
“It is gratifying to note that the State Government under the able and dynamic leadership of Governor Gboyega Oyetola had magnanimously shoulder all financial responsibilities attached to it. Therefore, no Food Vendor is charged with a dine. It is absolutely free.
“Given this, I implore all the participants (Food Vendors) to make good use of the golden opportunity judiciously and obey the hygienic rules in the discharge of their duties at home and in the School.
In her address, representative of Universal Children Education Funds (UNICEF), Mrs Gbadejo shared her former experiences during their visitation and inspection on how school vendors conduct themselves, she urged them to be more concerned about their hygiene.
In her address, Princess Oyin Adéjọbí, charged the participants to be mindful of who they give their full support to, stating that OMEALS staff and vendors should be grateful to Gov Oyetola for what he has been to achieve in the State.
Some of the participants who spoke with newsmen lauded the OMEALS under Alhaja Olaniyan, describing the event as rare privilege.
