The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti has revealed that no fewer than 2million persons die yearly from unsafe food globally with kids, pregnant women and the elderly more affected.
Moeti made the disclosure at a talk-shop on 2015 World Health Day organized by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Lagos with the theme: ‘’Food Safety’’. At the event, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof Vincent Tenebe, sought for partnership with major food stakeholders including farmers to tackle the issue of unsafe food in the country thus reduce death associated with it.
The WHO regional director whose speech was read by the vice chairman of YMCA, Mr. Akindele Akinsotu, said the theme highlights the urgent need for government organizations, food businesses and consumers to put measures in place that would improve food safety from the point of production to consumption. His words: ‘’Unsafe food is linked to the death of an estimated 2million people annually and the Africa region is without exception. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with an underlying illness are particularly vulnerable’’.
According to him, in 2014, there were more than 100,000 cases of cholera in 22 countries resulting in over 1,700 death stressing ‘’so far this year, cholera outbreaks in 13 countries have led to over 200 death out of more than 13,000 cases’’.
The health expert noted that food contaminated by harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances can lead to a wide range of health problems which is responsible for over 200 diseases, including typhoid fever, diarrhoea and cancers.
He called on African governments to prioritise food safety, align policies in agriculture, trade, health, education, social protection and mobilize adequate resources to make food safe.
Moeti explained that WHO would continue to collaborate with the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Organization for Animal Health and other partners to ensure food is safe ‘’from farm to plate’’ in the African region.
In his remarks at the event, Tenebe who was represented by the Director, Regional Training Institute for Open and Distance Learning (RETIDAL), Prof Vincent Ogunlela, said the theme underscore the importance of food safety which is a global challenge.
Ogunlela lauded YMCA for partnering with NOUN to promote food safety noting that the issue of food security is important thus the need to adhere to certain conditions while handling food.
The chairman of YMCA of Lagos, Mr. Mike Onilude, said the body empower young people for the service to their community and nation without any form of discrimination and assured the management of NOUN of its support on the issue of food safety.
Onilude added: “As an International Non Governmental Organization, YMCA operates in 120 countries across the World offering support and development programmes and services to people of the World with special focus on young people’’.
The Dean, School of Health Sciences of NOUN, Prof Mba Okoronkwo, said the World Health Day is an opportunity to alert people working in different government sectors, farmers, manufacturers, retailers, health practitioners and consumers about the importance of food safety and the part each can play in ensuring that everyone can feel confident that the food on their plate is safe to eat.
Professor Mba noted that food supply has become globalized, thus the need to strengthen food safety systems in and between countries is becoming more and more evident and that is why WHO is promoting efforts to improve food safety.
In the keynote address, Dr. Florence Uchendu of NOUN School of Health Sciences, revealed that 80 per cent of pupils in the country are suffering from night blindness because of lack of Vitamin A while stressing that government has a major role to play in food safety.
She disclosed night blindness is high in the country thus government effort at reducing it by fortifying sugar, vegetable oil and flour adding ‘’it affects about 30percent of pre-school children between the age bracket of 0-5 years. Many of them can’t see when it is dark. Their immunity is also low and they get affected with disease easily’’.
(Gabriel Dike)
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