Health Experts Urge Action Against Malnutrition, Cite 11 Million Deaths Worldwide

By Salifu Faridat

A call for decisive policy actions to combat malnutrition in the country has been made by health and nutrition experts, as recent data reveals a staggering 11 million deaths worldwide each year attributable to nutritional deficiencies.

During a virtual workshop held in collaboration with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and eHealth Africa, the spotlight was on “Enforcing Workforce Nutrition Compliance for Improved Health and Well-being in the Nigerian Workplace.”

Mrs. Dolapo Enejoh, an expert in food systems and nutrition, urgently emphasized the need for a well-defined policy framework in Nigeria to address malnutrition.

She pointed out that dietary risk factors alone account for the loss of 11 million lives and 255 million disability-adjusted life-years annually, resulting from illnesses, disabilities, or premature death.

Dr. Barbel Weiligmann, the Global Programme Lead for Workforce Nutrition at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), delivered a presentation on the pivotal role of workforce nutrition in enhancing the well-being of employees.

Professor Wasiu Afolabi, Dean of the College of Food Science and Human Ecology at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, echoed concerns about the lack of workforce nutrition programs in the public sector.

The workshop brought attention to the urgent need for addressing nutritional deficiencies, urging policymakers and stakeholders to take proactive measures in implementing effective workforce nutrition programs.

This collective effort aims to enhance the health and well-being of Nigerian workers, paving the way for a healthier and more resilient workforce.