Malnutrition: Stakeholders urge FG to introduce micronutrients fortified rice in school feeding
By Justina Auta
Stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to introduce the newly launched micronutrient fortified rice in its Home-Grown School feeding programme to address malnutrition.
The stakeholders made the call on the sidelines of the launch of the micronutrient fortified rice in Abuja.
Dr Michael Ojo, the Country Director of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) described Nigeria’s malnutrition as alarming, stressing the need to quickly address it, as it may worsen.
Ojo added that statistics evidence showed the negative impact of the lack of micronutrients amongst children, which will lead to malnutrition, hence introducing it into the school feeding programmes would improve their health.
”We are fortifying rice with zinc, Iron, Folic acid and vitamin B12.
” These are micronutrients that are not sufficiently available in the food that we consume but are critical, really crucial to health and well being.
” For example, folic acid is critical to the body’s production of red blood cells. We see a lot of anemia and anemia means that people don’t have enough red blood cells and it limits their ability to perform every day.
“We see very high rates in women, in children especially women who are going through their periods and losing blood for that reason so it is very important in our diet.
” This is the same work that is done by iron; some of the anemia is down to iron deficiency.”
Also speaking, Mr David Stevenson, Country Representative of the United Nations World Food Programme, noted that Nigeria had one of the largest Home-Grown School Feeding programme in Africa, which can be improved to targets 10 million children.
He said “The idea is to fortify rice and then provide it to the school children as part of the home-grown school feeding programme.
”These ten million children will be reached everyday when the programmes runs full speed and we at the world food programme are really appreciative of the partnership.
” And we feel that fortification is essential so that children can reach their full potential.”
“According to the World Bank, Nigeria loses an estimated 1.5 billion dollars to of Gross Domestic Product, (GDP), annually due to micronutrient deficiencies”
He, therefore, commended the Kebbi state government for agreeing to introduce the fortified rice into the school feeding programme, which will be of immense benefits to children, especially the less privileged ones.
On his part, Neera Kumar, WACOT Nigeria limited, said they will be partnering to pilot the fortification project in Kebbi state and has gained confidence of stakeholders in its technical capabilities.
He said the newly launched fortified rice is not more expensive than regular rice because the cost implication is very minimal, almost absent.
“It is one percent of blending only so it will not impact on the cost. It contains Iron, Zinc, vitamin B1, B3, B6, and B12,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Idris, Kebbi state governor, represented by his deputy, Umar Abubakar, said the state will continue to partner with key stakeholders in the fortification processes to add value to rice production through micronutrient fortification.
Idris, added that the value chain will not only improve local production economic development, but will make available nutritious food for consumption and health benefits of the children. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
Published By
- Senior Editor
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