Breaking: Alarming Trend Nigeria Faces Annual Toll Of 200,000 Deaths Due To Food Poisoning

Breaking: Alarming Trend Nigeria Faces Annual Toll Of 200,000 Deaths Due To Food Poisoning....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Gender and Inclusion Summit 2023 (GS-23) recently held in Abuja unveiled a disconcerting revelation that over 200,000 Nigerians succumb to food poisoning annually, a revelation causing concern among stakeholders. Osenega Orokpo, wife of Apostle Michael Orokpo and a notable social media influencer, delivered a shocking disclosure during the event organized by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. Orokpo attributed the high rate of food poisoning in Nigeria and other African nations to unsafe food preparation and preservation methods, citing poor processing and the absence of robust monitoring systems.

CONTINUE READING:

READ ALSO:https://bushradiogist.com/breaking-tinubu-responds-to-passing-of-kuwaits-emir/

Stakeholders at the summit identified several perilous practices contributing to this issue, such as the use of hazardous chemicals like sniper for storing agricultural commodities, improper meat tendering with paracetamol, formaldehyde preservation of fish, and the injection of poultry with hormones. These practices, along with others like the use of carbide to ripen fruits, were acknowledged as significant factors leading to the alarming number of deaths.

Osenega Orokpo emphasized the necessity for resilient food systems to combat food poisoning, proposing proactive interventions such as advocacy and the establishment of safety measures throughout the food supply chain. Stressing the importance of women inclusion in the food value chain, she highlighted that 47 percent of farmers in this sector were women. She advocated for comprehensive training from farm to factory to ensure safe food procedures.

Udeme Ufot, Chairman of the NESG Policy and Innovation Centre, outlined the summit’s purpose as a platform for diverse stakeholders to discuss evidence-based solutions to inclusivity disparities in Nigeria. By uniting government, development partners, civil society, academia, and the private sector, the summit aims to foster collective commitment and focused action for building a gender-inclusive society.

Eva Edwards, a director with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), emphasized that food-borne diseases disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. She highlighted the misuse of agrochemicals like sniper for food storage and preservation, urging for measures to address these health hazards.

In response, NAFDAC Director General Prof Moji Adeyeye launched a campaign against drug hawking and fruit ripening with harmful chemicals, citing potential risks of cancer, heart, kidney, and liver failures.Experts such as Jennifer Egbo, a food science and nutrition specialist, and Chinonso Ezenwako, a U.S.-based nutritionist, emphasized the importance of awareness, sensitization, and training to combat food poisoning. They called for increased government involvement in ensuring safe food preparation practices.

Concerned individuals, including Mr. Anthony Ugwuoke and Dr. Pogu Bitrus, stressed the need for urgent and decisive steps to address the issue. They highlighted the dangers of harmful agrochemicals and the shift from traditional to modern farming techniques as contributing factors to food poisoning.

Alhaji Yerima Shettima criticized regulatory bodies like NAFDAC for not ensuring quality standards, emphasizing the need for competent individuals in sensitive positions. Dr. Uche Okenyi of Hova’s Place Hospital underscored the importance of education and awareness in preventing food poisoning and urged increased investment in healthcare.In conclusion, the summit participants collectively called for a multi-faceted approach involving advocacy, training, and stringent regulatory measures to address the significant public health challenge of food poisoning in Nigeria.

For more information join our whatsapp group by clicking the link here: WhatsApp Group Invite

Source; Bushradiogist