SENEGAL – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Subregional Office for West Africa, in collaboration with the Senegal National Codex Committee under the Ministry of Health and Social Action, recently organized a comprehensive simulation exercise to address collective food poisoning.
The exercise, held in Fatick from July 30th to August 2nd, was part of the project “Strengthening the Emergency Response Capacity for Food Safety and Improving Street Food Sanitary Quality in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal,” funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Simulating a Crisis: A real-world exercise
On July 31st, the National Fire Brigade was alerted to cases of severe vomiting and abdominal pain at a family ceremony in Fatick.
The investigation revealed that the affected individuals had arrived from various parts of the country the day before.
Of the 70 reported cases, 20 were severe, involving vulnerable populations such as young children, elderly individuals, and pregnant women. Additional cases with similar symptoms were reported across the region, prompting an urgent investigation.
The preliminary investigation identified anomalies in the labeling of sausage products found at the ceremony site, suggesting expiration date falsification.
The head of the household disclosed that the sausages were purchased from a local wholesaler who had received a large shipment from a neighboring country without proper authorization. This stock had been stored in substandard conditions, and a portion had already been sold across the region.
Coordinated response and international collaboration
In response to the unfolding crisis, the Fatick Regional Hygiene Brigade notified the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) Emergency Contact Point.
The INFOSAN Senegal Network Secretariat swiftly analyzed the situation, categorizing it as a crisis based on the available data. The Governor of Fatick prepared and signed a draft order to convene the Regional Incident Management System (RIMS), ensuring a coordinated and effective response.
“This exercise aimed to verify the operational procedures of Senegal’s National Food Safety Emergency Response Plan (FoSERP) in managing incidents like this,” explained Mrs. Mame Diarra Faye Lèye, Focal Point of the National Codex Committee and INFOSAN contact point in Senegal.
“We needed to test these procedures under real-world conditions to ensure they align with the demands of a genuine crisis.”
Strengthening capacities and enhancing preparedness
The simulation exercise, which engaged nearly a hundred participants, was designed to strengthen the capacities of various stakeholders within Senegal’s national food safety system.
These included community actors, administrative and local authorities, INFOSAN focal points, and representatives from regional health and food safety agencies. The exercise also fostered multisectoral collaboration and enhanced communication procedures, essential for a coordinated response to food safety emergencies.
Professor Amadou Diouf, President of the National Codex Alimentarius Committee, highlighted the importance of the exercise: “Through this exercise, we have operationalized the FoSERP, reinforcing our response capabilities and improving our ability to communicate effectively during food safety emergencies.”
A step forward in food safety
Senegal’s National Food Safety Emergency Response Plan, developed with FAO’s assistance between 2015 and 2018, was the first of its kind in the region.
The recent simulation exercise emphasized the country’s commitment to safeguarding public health by ensuring preparedness for foodborne health crises.
Dr. Mamadou Ndiaye, Food Safety Expert at the FAO Subregional Office for West Africa, emphasized the significance of the exercise, noting that it provided valuable insights into emerging risks and reinforced the importance of a robust food safety emergency response system.
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