Health: How to protect yourself from food

________________ The World Health Organisation (WHO) says unsafe food contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites and harmful chemicals can cause more than 200 different diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancer. WHO estimates that diarrhoeal diseases alone kill about 1.5 million children globally every year, and most of these illnesses are attributed to contaminated food or drinking water. According to Hassan Mayanja, a physician at Mercy Hospital, food-borne diseases are common and contribute to a sizeable number of patients in both developing and developed countries. He adds: "Food-borne diseases have a higher impact on vulnerable people, such as infants, pregnant women, the sick and the elderly, among whom they can even cause death. This is because such people usually have low immunity to diseases." According to findings from a study on food-borne diseases, 14% of all diseases treated each year in Uganda are due to food-borne-related illnesses. Ministry of Health data indicates that Uganda registers about 1.3 million cases of food-borne illnesses annually, representing approximately 14% of all diseases treated in health facilities. These include cholera, dysentery, intestinal worms, typhoid and Hepatitis E. Causes Mayanja explains that food-borne diseases can be caused by bacteria, for example cholera and typhoid, as well as viruses such as hepatitis A, polio and rotaviral diarrhoea. According to the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa, 13 countries in the African Region were reporting active cholera outbreaks as of February 2026. Between January 1 and February 15, 2026, five Southern African countries reported 4,320 cholera cases and 56 deaths, while 13 countries across the region continued to report outbreaks. " Food-borne diseases may also be caused by parasites, worms, fungi and toxins . The toxins may either be formed in food before consumption or produced by pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract after eating contaminated food or using contaminated utensils or hands." Mayanja explains that sometimes bacteria invade the intestinal walls and spread to other body organs, causing bacteraemia, the presence of bacteria in the blood. He also explains that people can contract worms, such as pork or beef tapeworms, by eating infected undercooked pork or meat. "Contaminated food can also cause long-term health problems. For example, food contaminated with heavy metals or naturally occurring toxins can cause cancer and neurological disorders." "Similarly, the accumulation of invisible germs on one's hands is a common source of transmission that is often overlooked." Management Mayanja says management of food-borne diseases requires addressing the cause. However, several viral illnesses, such as rotaviral diarrhoea, are self-limiting and may only require supportive treatment. He also advises people to deworm regularly to eliminate worms from their bodies. Prevention Experts say washing hands with clean water and soap is one of the most effective ways of preventing food-borne diseases. WHO advises that people should wash their hands before and after handling food and after using the toilet. Dr. Abubakar Sempereza, a general doctor, says one of the most overlooked ways of preventing food-borne diseases is maintaining proper hygiene throughout the entire food chain, from buying food to serving it. He advises people to avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, fish and poultry separate from cooked or ready-to-eat foods and by using different knives and chopping boards where possible. "Many people cook food thoroughly but contaminate it again through dirty hands, utensils or surfaces. Safe food handling is just as important as proper cooking in preventing food-borne illnesses", he explains.