West Africa understands the significance of meals fortification as a confirmed and cost-effective method to forestall micronutrient deficiencies, i.e., “hidden starvation.” Practically 20 years in the past, international locations in West Africa analyzed the diets of weak populations throughout the area to higher perceive and deal with gaps in diet.
They discovered that a handful of staple meals and condiments—like vegetable oil, wheat flour, and salt—have been eaten by over 70 per cent of the goal inhabitants, no matter the place they lived or family price range. These meals have been for use for the area’s fortification program—one of the crucial formidable in Africa’s historical past.
At present, as we face rising well being, meals and diet safety, and financial crises, West Africa has a essential alternative to construct on this legacy and renew our dedication to enhance meals variety and micronutrient consumption. Regardless of some progress, the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies—attributable to a lack of important nutritional vitamins and minerals in diets—stay excessive throughout the area,with devastating impacts.
Roughly, half of ladies ages 15-49 undergo from anemia, and 15 per cent of kids are born with low start weight and potential start defects as a result of micronutrient deficiencies. This vital public well being downside has solely been made worse by the concurrent crises.
The West African Well being Group (WAHO), the official well being company of the Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS), has a sturdy historical past of management on meals fortification—galvanizing public-private partnerships,collaborating with world companions and NGOs, to help meals fortification.
To date, all Member States of ECOWAS have nationwide insurance policies and rules to help the fortification of extensively consumed meals, corresponding to edible oils, cereals, salt,milk, and sugar. These insurance policies and rules are essential to bringing micronutrient-fortified staples to thousands and thousands throughout West Africa,and we have seen promising outcomes.In Nigeria, between 2017 and 2020, protection of wheat flour fortified with iron and folic acid—which helps shield in opposition to anemia and severe start defects—elevated from 54 per cent to 92 per cent to succeed in 73.5 million further Nigerians.
Protection of sugar fortified with vitamin A—which promotes eyesight and strengthens the immune system—has greater than tripled to succeed in 96 per cent of the inhabitants. Salt iodization ranges have remained fixed at an spectacular 95 per cent. The Selling Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRIFN) venture goals to construct a roadmap to fortify one other staple of Nigerian diets and develop native manufacturing of fortified rice—boosting well being and native economies.New initiatives like PRIFN are essential to rising the impression of fortification.
At present, we’re getting ready to additional progress. Final Might, with broad help from ECOWAS Member States,the Invoice & Melinda Gates Basis, and lots of companions, the Meeting of the World Well being Organisation handed a landmark decision to strengthen meals fortification packages. Following this meeting, stakeholders from the West African area got here collectively to recommit to meals fortification as a number one technique for dietary coverage and dedicated to establishing a regional Alliance for meals fortification.In doing this, we’ve got despatched a transparent sign to the worldwide group: “we’ve got the political will and want to develop and enhance meals fortification packages.” It is time to flip this momentum in to motion, set accountable regional objectives, measure our impression,and make actual progress on fortification.
At present, West African leaders are at a crossroads. The impression of local weather change, inflation and basic value of residing have made wholesome diets even extra costly and inaccessible. Subsequently, it’s paramount that we prioritize programmes that help the dietary wants of all individuals, particularly probably the most weak. Regardless of the challenges, we are able to reinforce capability and develop efficient help techniques, services,and instruments to assist standardize the fortification processes. We will set up sturdy exterior monitoring and regulatory techniques. We look ahead to collaborating with others throughout Africa, and particularly right here in West Africa, to proceed this essential work. All of us have a task to play in making our imaginative and prescient of fortification a actuality. By seizing this chance, West Africa can make sure the meals and diet safety of its inhabitants and, above all, enhance their well being and well-being.
• Dr Melchior Athanase Joël C. Aïssi is the Director Common of the West African Well being Group and Natasha Kofoworola Quist is the Regional Director,West and Central Africa for the Invoice & Melinda Gates Basis.
