Angela Onwuzoo
As part of efforts to tackle malnutrition in children under the age of five years in Nigeria which has assumed a frightening dimension amid the high cost of foods, global food and beverage brand, Nestle Nigeria Plc, has said iron fortification would help deliver essential micronutrients to this vulnerable group.
The food company noted that iron fortification had been identified as one of the most effective strategies for tackling micronutrient deficiencies.
A nutrition expert with Nestle Nutrition Institute Central West African Region, Dr Kanalio Olaloku, disclosed this at a media training organised by the company for Society for Media Advocacy on Health, held at its Agbara Factory, Ogun State, recently.
Olaloku listed some of the strategies to end malnutrition including; food fortification and supplementation; regular deworming; dietary diversification; enhanced caregiver capability; multi-sectoral approach/partnership; and continued research/data availability.
The World Health Organisation says fortification is the practice of deliberately increasing the content of one or more micronutrients (i.e., vitamins and minerals) in a food or condiment to improve the nutritional quality of the food supply and provide a public health benefit with minimal health risk.
It states that fortification is an evidence-informed intervention that contributes to the prevention, reduction, and control of micronutrient deficiencies.
“It can be used to correct a demonstrated micronutrient deficiency in the general population (mass or large-scale fortification) or in specific population groups (targeted fortification) such as children, pregnant women, and the beneficiaries of social protection programmes”, WHO declares.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, children need the right foods at the right time to grow and develop to their full potential and the most critical time for good nutrition is during the 1,000 days from pregnancy until a child’s second birthday.
However, these right foods are barely accessible to children under five years in Nigeria as UNICEF says the country loses about 100 children per hour due to malnutrition. This translates to about 2,400 deaths daily.
It warns that if a child is malnourished, they are 12 times more likely to die.
Sadly, UNICEF data also indicates that Nigeria is ranked number one in Africa and second in the world in the total of children malnourished.
According to the Child Rights Agency, nearly half of all deaths in children under five are attributable to undernutrition, stressing that undernutrition puts children at greater risk of dying from common infections, increases the frequency and severity of such infections, and delays recovery.
Experts say malnutrition, in all its forms, imposes unacceptably high costs – direct and indirect – on the nation.
In her presentation which centred on the theme of the workshop, ‘Fortification as a Strategy’, Olaloku said micronutrient fortification was crucial in addressing under-nutrition in the country.
The nutritionist pointed out that adequate and appropriate dietary intake of essential vitamins, minerals, and trace elements (collectively referred to as micronutrients) is necessary for maintaining health at all life stages.
She noted that Nestle’s policy on micronutrient fortification is aimed at promoting the micronutrient fortification of foods and beverages at levels that help to improve and maintain health, and in amounts that do not increase the risk of developing adverse consequences from excessive consumption.
Giving insight into the benefits of food fortification, the nutritionist stated that fortification was widely identified as a cost-effective strategy for addressing micronutrient malnutrition.
Olaloku said, “In Nigeria, food fortification with a focus on vitamin A, iron, zinc, iodine, and other micronutrients remains a major thrust of the effort to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition.
“Micronutrient deficiencies have been an enduring problem in Nigeria. The prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency is estimated at 30 per cent and 70 per cent of children are anaemic. Previously, micronutrient deficiency control efforts were limited.”
According to her, the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among preschool children is estimated at 70 per cent, emphasizing that deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, and iodine are the most common around the world, particularly in children and pregnant women.
“ Nestle’s mission for Central and West Africa is to enhance the quality of life and contribute to a healthier future in Central and West Africa by providing affordable and accessible nutrition.
“We fortify popular foods and beverages where relevant nutrients are unavailable or difficult for families and children to access, especially in vulnerable populations”, she said.
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