Nutritionists Urge Nigerians to Combat Iron Deficiency with Fortified Foods

Health and nutrition specialists are urgently calling for measures to address malnutrition and enhance eating patterns throughout all stages of life, highlighting iron deficiencies, inadequate food selections, and insufficient nutritional knowledge as significant risks to public health in Nigeria and across Africa.

At the "Nutrition for All Life Stages Workshop," held by Nestlé Nigeria on Wednesday in Agbara, Ogun State, two experts highlighted key issues: Dr. Kanalio Olaloku from Nestlé Central West Africa and nutritionist and public health advocate Patience Chimah-Madubuko emphasized the urgent necessity of enhancing food fortification, adopting better feeding habits, and increasing community involvement in nutritional education efforts.

In her presentation, Olaloku cautioned that iron deficiency anemia—one type of concealed malnutrition—continues to be among the most serious public health issues in the area.

Micronutrient deficiencies pose risks as they often lack obvious symptoms, yet quietly impact productivity, learning capabilities, and immune function," she stated after showing a video. "Our primary worries are iron, iodine, and vitamin A deficiencies.

She pointed out that although plant-based diets are commonly followed, they frequently do not provide enough readily absorbable iron. Additionally, she mentioned that very few pregnant women manage to adhere to the suggested iron supplements throughout their pregnancy. Factors such as unhealthy eating patterns, insufficient knowledge about iron-containing foods, and parasitic infections often contribute to this issue.

Her talk similarly promoted adopting an interdisciplinary strategy that includes collaboration between governments, the business world, healthcare providers, and local leaders.

She similarly promoted routine de-worming for kids, boosting their intake of readily available iron-packed items such as liver, pumpkin seeds, and seafood, along with enriching basic foodstuffs like wheat flour, salt, and grains.

Highlighting the effects of malnutrition, she stated, "Increased susceptibility to disease and death — which many are familiar with — hinders the typical development of children. These young individuals play a crucial role in driving economic advancement. It is often noted that both the pressure and prosperity of a country can be linked to the overall health of its population."

Higher medical expenses—often, preventing a child from getting malnourished could cost merely under ₦10,000. This is preferable compared to paying ₦100,000 for hospitalization later once the child succumbs to malnutrition.

Malnutrition also restricts educational potential and impairs food security as well as overall well-being and quality of life.

In line with enhancing nutrition education, Chimah-Madubuko centered her talk on the dietary requirements of people throughout various life phases, emphasizing that inadequate nourishment at any stage could lead to lasting impacts in subsequent periods.

"Whether from infancy to old age, the food you consume and the manner in which you consume it can either ward off or encourage illness," she stated.

She delineated key phases of human growth—including pregnancy and breastfeeding, infancy, early childhood, puberty, adulthood, and senior years—every stage having distinct nutritional needs.

Busting prevalent misconceptions, Madubuko emphasized that during the initial three months of pregnancy, excessive eating is unnecessary. Instead, expectant mothers should focus on consuming adequate amounts of folic acid and other vital micronutrients.

She highlighted the significance of exclusively breastfeeding infants for their initial half-year, referring to breast milk as the sole nourishment needed for babies throughout this time frame.

Once six months have passed, she noted, infants require fortified supplementary foods to fulfill their increasing nutritional needs.

When discussing adolescence, Maduboko highlighted that teens—particularly boys—need increased amounts of energy and nutrients to fuel their fast growth and brain development. Additionally, she addressed typical parental issues like selective eating habits.

We've all encountered a toddler who enjoys eating rice and meat but turns up their nose at vegetables," she stated. "Feeding children properly requires both patience and ingenuity.

Both speakers emphasized that malnutrition, despite being frequently unseen, can have long-lasting impacts—ranging from impaired physical development and cognitive delays during childhood to ongoing health issues in later life.

The "Nutrition For All Ages" workshop, organized by Nestlé Nigeria, included expert presentations, engaging dialogues, and informative videos highlighting the effects of lacking micronutrients and macronutrients.

The workshop included a visit to the Nestlé facilities in Agbara, Ogun State, encompassing a tour of the Nestlé Maggi Star production plant as well.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).