NAFDAC, GAIN move to check malnutrition with fortification

Apparently worried by the growing level of malnutrition particularly among infants, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition have teamed up to fight the setback with food fortification across the country.

This strategy was unveiled at a two-day joint regulatory agencies retreat on food fortification organized by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in Kaduna.

The Country Director of GAIN, Dr. Michael Ojo, noted with dismay the absence of fortified foods for majority of the citizens especially in poorer countries including Nigeria and said that the agency was determined to reverse the ugly trend in the interest of the people.

Dr. Ojo, who was represented by the Project Manager of GAIN, Dr. Augustine Okoruwa, disclosed that the organisation has been helping to fortify many types of foods with vital vitamins in the past 12 years and would continue to do more in the y ears ahead so as to address the challenges posed by malnutrition to the citizens.

According to him, the agency has been fortifying vegetable oil with vitamins A and D; wheat and maize flour with iron, folic acid, other B vitamins and zinc; soy sauce with iron and salt with iodine.

“This is why fortifying food staples such as flour, cooking oils and condiments with essential micronutrients is a crucial component of our work at GAIN.

“Food fortification is one major way to address malnutrition in the country; it also helps economies by reducing malnutrition, preventing estimated losses to the economy for as much as 2.65% of GDP according to the World Bank.

“The food fortification project will protect millions of people against iodine deficiency, including pregnant and lactating women children aged 6 months to 15 years old who are no longer at risk of its debilitating effects”.

Also speaking, out-gone NAFDAC DG, Ademola Andrew Magbojuri, said the agency would continue to collaborate with development partners to promote the consumption of fortified foods.

He explained that food fortification enhances quality of food by adding vital minerals and vitamins in minute quantities needed by the body; the absence of which causes micro-nutrient deficiencies.

He said, “Micro-nutrients deficiency known as hidden hunger has become a major devastating nutrition problem affecting health especially that of children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

“About 10 million children under the age of five are stunted as a result of malnutrition in the last 10 years, and one third of pre-school age children have vitamin A deficiency which has a direct impact on the child’s immune system and sight.

“Stunting rate has been recorded at 41 per cent, wasting at 14 per cent and underweight at 23 per cent. This is why the government is collaborating with GAIN and other development partners to take necessary actions and mount control programs that will address the micronutrient deficiency programme in the country”, he said.