Producers of packaged water in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital have assured consumers of safetiness of their products, dismissing insinuation in some quarters that the recent outbreak of Cholera in the state was caused by unhygienic sachette water
Acting Chairman of Egba Zone of the Table Water and Beverages Producers Association of Nigeria, Elder Iyiola Komolafe gave the assurance on Wednesday during a three-day sensitization walk against Cholera with other members across major areas in the city, to further educate general public on causes and prevention of cholera, as part of measures to compliment awareness campaign by the State Ministry of Health in curtailing the outbreak of the deadly desease and making Ogun, a Cholera free state
Komolafe speaking with newsmen during the sensitization walk , expressed the commitment of the association in ensuring that only safe water are produced for consumers without increasing the cost of production or price of selling a bag of sachette water or bottle water in the market
He explained that the three-day period
would be used to visit water factories in Obantoko, Idi-Aba and Obada within Egba Zone of the association, to ensure that producers comply with necessary safety standard under hygienic environment for production of packaged water
"Our aim is to support the Ogun State Government in curtailing the outbreak of cholera and make Ogun a Cholera free state"
"We carry out regular quarterly inspection on factories of our members to ensure that only safe water are produced for consumers, we equally organized quarterly workshop in collaboration with Environmental Health Officers of government on the importance of safe water for consumption", he added
According to him, the third day of sensitization walk will be used for meeting with members of packaged water producers at the Secretariat of the association in the zone , where issues affecting the business will be discussed and chart a way forward
The association however appealed to the State Government to assist packaged water producers with grant to cushion the effect of high cost of producing a bag of sachette water as a result of the harsh economic situation in the country
Other members of association including Co-ordinator of Idi-Aba/Obantoko unit, Mr.Sunday Sotunde and Alhaja Basirat Okunola in their separate interviews, pledged to continue to co-operate with the State Government in ensuring that they produce safe water for consumption and protect people from Cholera
They stressed the need for people to always ensure they keep healthy environment as part preventing measures against contacting the decease
Similarly Public Relations Officers of Marketers of Sachette water in the zone, Mr. Ayoola Sotunde offered safety tips to consumers on how to differeciate genuine packaged water from adulterated, asking them to be careful of products that look cheap, when compare with prices of other similar products
"Consumers should always ask questions when a bag of sachette water is sold for N150 compare with others that are being sold for N200, which means something is wrong with cost of production, the product is substandard, consumers should be weary of such product because of their health"
He equally emphasized the need for State Government to ensure prospective producers comply with necessary safety standard before being allowed to establish water factory and process for certification by National Agency for Food, Drugs and Administration Control (NAFDAC)
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