picture credit: Thisday.
Experts advocate nutrition, lifestyle modification for disease prevention
By Martins Ifijeh
Following increased rate of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) in the
country, experts have called on Nigerians to maintain adequate
nutritional diets, as well as abstain from lifestyle that predisposes
one to health issues like diabetes, cancer, respiratory disorders, among
others.
The experts who spoke at a one-day workshop organised by Coca Cola
Nigeria in Lagos recently, tagged: 'Adequate Nutrition and Lifestyle :
Essential for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases,' said Nigerians
must make deliberate attempts to prevent the numerous health issues in
the country.
Speaking at the workshop, a Consultant Nutritionist and Dietician, Dr
Chika Ndiokwelu, said eating unhealthy diets have been implicated to
cause a number of preventable diseases, adding that, processed foods
contain more harmful elements than the well known African foods and
vegetables which the country was used to.
While stating that poor food intake, smoking, harmful use of alcohol
and sedentary lifestyle were risk factors responsible for NCDs, she
advised that eating of fruits, legumes, vegetables, engage in regular
physical exercise, reduction of salt intake, reduction in alcohol
intake, as well as quitting smoking, would help a long way in preventing
NCDs.
She described NCDs as chronic but non-contagious medical conditions
which could lead to deformity or death. "NCDs represent a major threat
to health and development in the 21st century, as they account for 60
per cent of all deaths and 43 per cent of disease burden globally," she
said.
She listed four major NDCs to include; cardiovascular diseases (CVDs),
cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus, adding that,
these four were the world's biggest killers as they account for 36
million deaths annually.
"With the increasing level of NCDs, if proper measures are not taken,
the country may be forced to allocate more than three per cent of its
healthcare cost for the management of the diseases within the next 10
years," she said.
Ndiokwelu, called on the Federal Government to develop a national
policy and action plan on food and nutrition, including the control of
diets related to non-communicable diseases. Statingthat, manufacturers
and producers of food products should provide accurate nutritional
information on their products to help consumers make informed choices.
In his speech, a Research Fellow, National Institute for Medical
Research, Dr. Bartholomew Brai said with improved healthy lifestyle and
right diets, NCDs will reduce drastically in the country, adding that,
Nigerians must shun risky factors that predisposes them to various kinds
of health issues.
He charged health writers to continue to educate the public on ways to preventing diseases and general health education.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Coca-Cola
Nigeria, Mr. Clem Ugorji, said that the company has been striving to
provide clear nutritional values, offer low calorie or non-caloric
beverages to the public.
Ugorji said the workshop was organised to educate the public on issues
of nutrition as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility
(CSR).
"The recipe of coca-cola has remained unchanged for 129 years, with
more than 3,600 products in several countries and over 500 brands.
''This was achievable due to our acceptance by the public. We shall
continue to support and provide the public with health information
because a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.
''The only way to reach the public is through the media which is why we
are organising this workshop for them to relate and know our level of
acceptance in the public. The media also have a role to play by ensuring
that they publish accurate and factual information so as not to
misinform the public, '' he said.
The forum had in attendance over 40 health journalists across the
country, who also had a tour of the company's plant facility in Ikeja.
Thisday.
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