Malnutrition, a silent disaster…
In recent times, malnutrition has been identified to constitute a global “silent emergency”, killing millions annually and sapping the economic vitality of nations. With statistics by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which revealed that nearly 12 million children under the age of five (over 4 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa alone) die annually; malnutrition has been fingered to be responsible for 55 percent of these deaths.
However, with about 43 million people worldwide suffering from varying degrees of brain damage due to iodine deficiency, about 226 million children are reported to be stunted (shorter than they should be for their age),and every third child is underweight, while two out of five are stunted in sub-Saharan Africa.
Giving the daunting reality associated with malnutrition in children as well as rising cases of diet-related health conditions such as malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, etc in the country, experts have tasked Nigerians to become nutritionally-conscious in order to minimise the current upsurge of metabolic syndrome.
Speaking to newsmen at the launch of Justy Green Bread, Green Cookies and Biniza Multivitamin Cereals in Lagos, George Ekeh, managing director, Justy Confectionery and Foods Limited, revealed that the company had to produce these foods in view of increasing malnutrition which is on the rise in the country.
These food products, which has the endorsement of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) as an effective nutritional food supplements to be recommended to patients in hospitals as nutritional backup for treatments, was produced by the company to ensure that they provide all the necessary vitamins and nutrients which the body requires for proper growth and development.
“For six years, the company researched and worked with several elaborations across the globe until a breakthrough was made. This research gave us the opportunity to work with some of the best in food technology. We produced two unique products; Justy bread and cookies fortified with high protein, fibre, 35 vitamins (choline, selenium, Panthothenic Acid, calcium, iodine, Vitamins A,D,E,K,C,B6, etc.) and minerals. Some of the vitamins and minerals have high level antioxidants, which are substances in our foods which can prevent/slow the oxidative damage to our body.
“When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage. Antioxidants prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals. These antioxidants may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection,” George stated.
Speaking in the same vein, Ignatius Onimawo, president, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, disclosed that malnutrition has being identified as a major silent killer in Nigeria, which is responsible for over 60 percent avoidable maternal and infant mortality, especially those under-five.
According to Onimawo, “this figure makes Nigeria one of the countries in the world with the worst maternal and infant morbidity rate recorded among the comity of nations. He, however, called for the review of the current national food and nutrition policy to accommodate the emergence of severe to moderate acute malnutrition as well as upsurge of metabolic syndromes which was not envisaged in the current policy.
In his words: “Issues of nutrition will continue to be of great concern to every well-meaning Nigerian considering the abysmal statistics of infants, under-five and maternal mortality rates in Nigeria. It has been proven and demonstrated that malnutrition contributes approximately 60 percent of the underlying causes of these avoidable deaths that paint Nigeria in bad light among comity of nations. While over 100 universities currently operate in Nigeria, only five run degree courses in nutrition, yet nutrition holds the key for the reversal of the vicious attack of these deadly diseases. Food manufacturers in Nigeria should become nutrition-conscious in order to minimise the current upsurge of metabolic syndrome.”
Recall that Nigeria launched its National Policy on Food and Nutrition in 2002, with the overall goal of improving the nutritional status of all Nigerians. However, the policy set specific targets, which include reduction of severe and moderate malnutrition among children under five by 30 percent and reduction of micronutrient deficiencies (principally of vitamin A, iodine and iron) by 50 percent by last year.
While the Federal Government slated 2010 as the date set to reduce nutritional deficiency in children under five by half, it is sad that about 40 percent of this group are chronically malnourished, making Nigeria the leading country in Africa and 3rd globally with over 10 million children chronically undernourished.
While malnutrition still persists in our society, Paul Odiachi, chairman, National Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCFN), Abuja, maintained that “the alarming shape, scale and complexity of malnutrition in Nigeria call for more concerted efforts from all stakeholders beyond public pronouncements and policies but require concrete contributions from the private sector, academia and civil society organisations such as the food basket international.”
Since the roots of malnutrition have long been well known, families need to have access to adequate preventive and curative health care. They also need access to safe water and sanitation to prevent infection and disease. Also, supplements of nutrients such as vitamin A and iron can easily be made available, at minimal cost.
Tackling the problem requires the active involvement of families and communities, as well as political will at the national and international levels. Governments have to build widespread awareness of the roots and consequences of malnutrition, along with the ways of reducing it.
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