Food Safety Research from South Sudan Wins Recognition

(Juba) – A young South Sudanese health researcher earned recognition at the 10th East African Health and Scientific Conference for her outstanding work on food safety, a major global health issue.

The conference held under the theme “Addressing Health Priorities and Advancing the East African Region Health Agenda to Meet Global Health Targets” brought together experts from across the region to discuss pressing health challenges.

The South Sudanese participant, whose research focused on food safety, was awarded second place in the e-poster presentation category.

Her research explored how foodborne illnesses and food poisoning remain significant public health threats, contributing to millions of illnesses and deaths worldwide each year.

She presented her findings under the sub-theme “Strengthen One Health Approach to Address Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases”.

The “One Health” approach promotes collaboration across multiple sectors, including human, animal and environmental health to achieve better public health outcomes.

According to the presenter, ensuring food safety is a shared responsibility that must involve health professionals, policymakers, the food industry, and consumers.

Her work attracted significant attention from attendees, many of whom expressed concern about the safety of food in their communities.

“I am grateful that my presentation reached a large audience,” she said. “It shows how important the issue of food safety is and that there is a collective desire to find solutions.”

The award, she added, is an encouragement for young researchers across the East African region, particularly in South Sudan, to engage in health research and contribute to solving local and global health challenges.

The annual East African Health and Scientific Conference provides a platform for health professionals, researchers, and policy leaders to share findings, ideas, and best practices. This year’s event was a critical opportunity to review health priorities in light of global targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals.