Chinyere Anyanwu
In a bid to boost the fight against protein deficiency challenge in the country, experts from various fields have proffered solutions aimed at tackling the scourge headlong. They called for nationwide campaign to sensitise the citizenry on the immense benefits of protein-rich diets to health and well-being in addition to exploring cheaper sources of protein.
Drawn from the medical, agriculture, nutrition and research sectors, the professionals made the recommendations during the Protein Deficiency Awareness Webinar with the theme, “Nigeria’s Food Culture and the Challenge of Protein Deficiency”.
During the webinar, the keynote speaker, the Medical Director of Pinecrest Specialist Hospital and public health practitioner, Dr. Omadeli Boyo, analysed the link between Nigerians’ cultural attitude to food and protein deficiency, noting that the country is contending with “extreme malnutrition” owing to food choices tilting heavily towards carbohydrates.
Boyo said, “we have iron deficiency anaemia in Nigeria, protein energy malnutrition, Vitamin A deficiency, and iron deficiency disorder,” noting the need to, “educate people on the danger of malnutrition” and the need for food culture change. He, however, added that the change should follow a gradual process as change cannot happen overnight.
He also drew attention to the importance of debunking myths about some protein-rich foods that are regarded as taboos in some communities such as baring pregnant women from eating snails and children from eating eggs. He equally advised against overcooking plant protein food sources, as proteins are destroyed by excessive heat. For his part, the President of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Ezekiel Ibrahim, highlighted the importance of poultry products in any fight against protein deficiency, stating the need for government to “rejig the economy to ensure that food becomes very cheap and affordable.”
Ibrahim said, “we should device a means to ensure that food is given top priority in the country. We should see how we can reduce cost of production.”
Managing Director, Communication and Marketing Research Group (CMRG) Ltd, the research firm that conducted a nationwide survey on protein challenge, Mr. Lanre Fasakin, noted two major determinants of food choice in the country, namely, availability (what is around us) and affordability (what we can afford).
He said part of the survey findings include that “the lower socio-economic categories in both the urban and rural areas are victims of protein deficiency” and that “about one out of every four households eat their carbohydrates without proteins,” stating that addressing the issue will require proper education and awareness campaign.
In his concluding remarks, CEO of Mediacraft Associates, facilitators of the webinar, John Ehigwese, stated that to solve the protein deficiency challenge, improved economy and improved quality of life for people are paramount.
According to him, “the more the economy improves the more people have better incomes, the more they will be able to afford adequate protein. Secondly, education is very important. People need to be aware to dispel some of the myths around some food items and also to be aware of the benefits of having balanced diets.
“The whole idea is to create more awareness on protein deficiency and at the same time position soybeans as a cost-effective solution to the challenge.”