Assessment of Hygiene and Sanitation at Slaughterhouses in Gombe State

Slaughterhouse hygiene is a primary determinant of meat safety and a key responsibility of veterinary public health authorities. This study assessed hygiene and sanitation conditions at government-approved slaughterhouses in Gombe State, North East Nigeria. A structured assessment was carried out at all four operational slaughterhouses across three local government areas using a validated hygiene audit checklist adapted from CODEX Alimentarius standards. Forty-five abattoir workers were also interviewed using a questionnaire addressing personal hygiene knowledge and practices. Microbial surface swabs were collected from floors, walls, slaughter tables, and equipment to determine environmental contamination levels. Hygiene audit scores fell below 50% of maximum attainable scores in all four facilities. Swab culture results showed high counts of coliforms on slaughter surfaces in 78% of sampled areas. Personal hygiene compliance was poor, with fewer than 25% of workers using full protective gear. Common deficiencies included absence of potable water systems, non-functional effluent drainage, and insufficient waste collection. The study concludes that slaughterhouse hygiene in Gombe State is critically deficient, necessitating immediate infrastructural intervention and regulatory reform. The study recommends a state-level abattoir modernization program backed by dedicated budgetary allocation and periodic independent audits. Keywords: slaughterhouse hygiene, sanitation, meat safety, Gombe State, abattoir