Hodeida - Saba:
With the approach of Eid al-Adha, the Slaughterhouses Corporation in Hodeida governorate is intensifying its arrangements to enhance health control of sacrificial animals and ensure their safety.
This is part of measures aimed at preventing the slaughter of female and young livestock and preserving livestock, in coordination with the relevant authorities.
The Corporation has begun implementing a series of measures to enhance the readiness of official slaughterhouses, train veterinary personnel, and intensify awareness and oversight campaigns as part of a pre-planned plan to protect livestock from depletion and raise awareness of the importance of slaughtering sacrificial animals in accordance with approved health standards.
Hodeida is one of the governorates that relies on official slaughterhouses to regulate slaughtering operations, in the absence of licensed private slaughterhouses. This reinforces the responsibilities of the Slaughterhouses and Meat Sales Corporation in health control, performance regulation, and service provision to citizens.
With the expansion of meat markets and the increasing number of consumers during Eid al-Adha, the phenomenon of slaughtering female and young livestock emerges as one of the most prominent challenges threatening livestock. This requires the institution and relevant authorities to intensify measures and raise community awareness to curb practices that harm this wealth.
In this context, Abdullah al-Sharif, Director of the Governorate's Slaughterhouses Corporation, explained that the corporation has begun implementing a plan that includes training veterinary personnel to inspect sacrificial animals and ensure their safety, and preparing central and branch slaughterhouses to receive sacrifices from citizens, restaurants, and butchers.
Al-Sharif pointed out that an awareness campaign has been launched, including the distribution of posters and instructions on the conditions of sacrifice, the permissible age, and the locations and operating hours of slaughterhouses, contributing to raising awareness and ensuring safe slaughter.
He explained that the Corporation has recently completed the renovation and maintenance of the city's central slaughterhouse, funded by the Agricultural and Fisheries Projects and Initiatives Financing Unit. This project has contributed to improving the work environment and raising the level of veterinary services. He noted that the Corporation is seeking to approve four projects to expand infrastructure, modernize equipment, and increase operational and oversight capacity.
Regarding slaughter violations, al-Sharif indicated that the Corporation enforces the Slaughterhouse Law, which stipulates the confiscation of violating meat after inspection, after which it is distributed to prisons, orphanages, and nursing homes. Fines are imposed and facilities are closed in the event of repeated violations.
He emphasized that the slaughter of female and young livestock poses a direct threat to livestock, due to its negative repercussions on food security and meat quality. He explained that the Corporation has implemented two awareness campaigns over the past two years to raise awareness of the dangers of these practices.
Al-Sharif pointed out that a large percentage of Eid al-Adha sacrifices are slaughtered in official slaughterhouses, particularly by organizations and government agencies, thanks to awareness-raising efforts and ongoing coordination, along with the increasing demand for slaughter in slaughterhouses due to the health guarantees they provide.
The Director of the Slaughterhouses Corporation indicated that oversight during the Eid season relies on field teams operating around the clock, in addition to three branches within the city, and representatives in the directorates to monitor procedures and detect violations.
For his part, Asaad al-Arami, Deputy Director of the General Corporation for Slaughterhouses and Meat Sales, explained that the corporation is keen to implement a mechanism for veterinary inspection before and after slaughter, and that this mechanism is reinforced during Eid by increasing staff and providing equipment to ensure meat safety.
He called for integrated media and community efforts to promote a culture of organized slaughter, appreciating the support and cooperation of the local authority leadership with the corporation, which contributes to protecting livestock and enhancing food security.
The arrangements implemented by the Slaughterhouses Corporation in Hodeida prior to Eid al-Adha reflect its commitment to implementing safety standards and protecting public health.
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