Special adviser to the President Bola Tinubu on health, Dr. Salma Anas-Kolo Ibrahim has issued a call for urgent action to address the rising issue of hypertension and excessive salt consumption in Nigeria.
She made this appeal during the investiture ceremony for the newly appointed policy champion and social media influencer for Salt Target Regulations in Nigeria, organised by the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) on Friday.
As the newly appointed policy champion, Ibrahim emphasised the critical need for public education and policy interventions to combat cardiovascular diseases, which are placing an immense strain on Nigeria’s health system. She highlighted alarming statistics, noting that approximately 38.1 per cent of Nigerian adults suffer from hypertension, meaning one in every three adults is affected.
“This high prevalence, coupled with excessive salt intake – estimated at 10 grams per meal, double the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended limit – contributes to 10 per cent of cardiovascular disease-related deaths in the country,” she stated. Ibrahim underscored the importance of adhering to the WHO’s sodium consumption guidelines, which recommend less than two grammes per meal, equivalent to less than one teaspoon of salt.
She pointed out that current dietary habits in Nigeria, which heavily rely on salt in both home-cooked and processed foods, exacerbate the issue. “The high sodium intake, compounded by rapid urbanisation and changing lifestyles, underscores the need for urgent and sustained public health interventions,” she added.
As the policy champion for salt target regulations, Ibrahim expressed her commitment to using her platform to raise awareness about the risks associated with high salt intake and the benefits of reducing it. She stressed the need for collaboration with stakeholders across various sectors, including government bodies, health professionals, and the private sector, to implement effective policies and regulations.
Ibrahim also announced the launch of the “Peabody Youth Campaign for Health,” a program aimed at educating and mobilising young people to advocate for healthier eating habits. She pledged to work closely with social media influencers and other partners to disseminate vital health information across Nigeria.
Technical director of NHED, Dr. Jerome Mafeni highlighted the importance of reducing salt intake for improving public health in Nigeria. “We have made significant progress, but there is still plenty of work left to be done,” he said. Mafeni urged continued collaboration to drive change and create a healthier future, emphasising the need for mandatory salt reduction targets and robust social media advocacy.
Nigeria Coordinator for Food and Nutritional Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Joy Amafah described sodium reduction as a best practice in public health. She pointed to South Africa’s successful measures as a model and suggested that Nigeria has the potential to lead similar efforts in West Africa.
Nutrition Policy Advisor at Resolve to Save Lives, Batet Musa praised the initiative to appoint a policy champion and social media influencer, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts and advocacy in public health.
Executive director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Dr. Akinbode Oluwafemi emphasised the need for preventive strategies in public health. He highlighted CAPPA’s extensive engagement in health-related issues and stressed the importance of shifting towards preventive measures.
In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed social media influencer for salt target regulations in Nigeria, Dr. Olusina Ajidahun committed to using his platform to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive salt consumption and to inspire healthier living among Nigerians.
Technical assistant at the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Aminu Yakubu reiterated the government’s dedication to preventive measures for combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He highlighted the importance of Ibrahim’s role in promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing the prevalence of NCDs in the country. “The initiative to set salt reduction targets is a vital step in controlling these diseases and improving public health,” Yakubu added.
