Stakeholders in Nigeria have called for immediate action to combat the escalating rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country, particularly those linked to excessive salt consumption.
At a media round table on reducing salt content in commercially processed foods in Nigeria, concerns were raised regarding the alarming lack of awareness among Nigerians about the health risks associated with high salt intake.
Technical advisor at the Network for Health Equity and Development, Dr. Jerome Mafeni stressed the importance of implementing mandatory salt reduction targets. Mafeni highlighted that collaborative efforts from government agencies, public health organisations, media personnel and the general populace are crucial in achieving meaningful change.
“Government agencies will play a crucial role in enforcing salt reduction targets, while public health organisations will lead efforts in educating the public about the health risks of excessive salt intake,” Mafeni emphasised.
Mrs. Bukola Olukemi Odele from Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) highlighted the significant contribution of high salt consumption to NCDs such as hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Odele underscored the urgent need for education and awareness campaigns to address this overlooked health crisis.
Director of press at the Office of the Minister of Information, Mr. Suleman Haruna emphasised the pivotal role of the media in raising awareness about the problem of high salt intake and promoting healthier dietary habits.
According to experts at the event, despite efforts to raise awareness, the average salt intake among Nigerians surpasses the global average by almost three times, underscoring the severity of the issue. They said that reduction measures were crucial, as excessive salt consumption significantly increases the risk of NCDs.
The experts said that reducing salt intake to less than 5 grams per day (about 1 teaspoon) could save around 2.5 million lives every year. The round table concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to implement effective regulations, educate the public and promote healthier lifestyle choices to combat the growing burden of salt-related NCDs in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the global strategy on salt reduction said that in 2013, the World Health Assembly agreed to nine global voluntary targets for the prevention and control of NCDs, which includes a 30 per cent relative reduction in the intake of salt by 2025. The Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013-2020 give guidance and policy options for Member States, WHO and other UN agencies to achieve the targets.
In 2016, the SHAKE technical package was developed, and it is aimed at assisting member states with the development, implementation and monitoring of salt reduction strategies.
It is essential to address salt-related non-communicable diseases in Nigeria to save millions of lives every year. The high salt consumption in Nigeria is a serious health concern, which directly contributes to NCDs such as hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Despite efforts to raise awareness, Nigerians still consume salt far above the global average, which is almost three times. This underscores the severity of the situation, and stakeholders have called for immediate action to combat the escalating rates of NCDs in the country.
The stakeholders have emphasised the need for collaborative efforts from government agencies, public health organisations, media personnel, and the general public to achieve meaningful change. The government agencies must enforce salt reduction targets while public health organisations will lead efforts to educate the public about the health risks of excessive salt intake.
It is high time for education and awareness campaigns to address this overlooked health crisis. The media must play a pivotal role in raising awareness about the problem of high salt intake and promoting healthier dietary habits. Reduction measures are crucial, as excessive salt consumption significantly increases the risk of NCDs. Therefore, reducing salt intake to less than 5 grammes per day could save around 2.5 million lives every year.
All stakeholders must work together to implement effective regulations, educate the public, and promote healthier lifestyle choices to combat the growing burden of salt-related NCDs in Nigeria. The Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013-2020 provides guidance and policy options for member states, WHO and other UN agencies to achieve the targets. Therefore, it is high time for Nigeria to implement the SHAKE technical package to assist member states with the development, implementation and monitoring of salt reduction strategies.
