Experts Call for Protein Intake, Women Empowerment to Curb Malnutrition Cycle in Nigeria

The rate of malnutrition in Nigeria has become worrisome as recent statistics show that, depending on zones between 10% -20% women are undernourished in Nigeria.

The short term and long term consequences of malnutrition have been discovered to have devastating effects on the economic productivity of a nation.

As a result, women empowerment and regular intake of protein should be encouraged to eliminate the growing concern among the Nigerian population.

This was the position of Nutrition Experts in Nigeria during the Protein Challenge Webinar Series 3 themed “Empowering women to break the cycle of malnutrition in Nigeria”.

In her keynote address, the Human Nutritionist from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Ibiyemi Olayemi stressed that malnutrition is a broad term for both undernutrition and overnutrition.

Olayemi noted that a UN 2010 report revealed that over 350,000 women die from preventable complications related to pregnancy and childbirth each year.

Malnutrition, according to Olayemi is a pandemic on its own which can lead to different kinds of sickness. Unfortunately, no age group is exempted because there is no immunity to malnutrition.

Empowering women is the right step and best way to break the cycle of malnutrition, most especially in Nigeria.

This is because women are the key decision-makers in the choice of the family meal and when they are empowered (economically and intellectually), it advances the health, education and economic security of their family. Down the line, women empowerment benefits the nation, especially the nutritional status of all Nigerians.

“Malnutrition starts from conception. This can be broken when women are encouraged to take enough rich protein foods together with their households.

For the fetus, protein requirement is very small in the early period but it increases progressively as pregnancy proceeds. According to Olayemi, total demand 925 grams; 82% of it is accumulated over the last half of gestation.

Taking protein from the rich source will supply enough intake of amino acid while eliminating the fear of illnesses in both children and adults.

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Furthermore, Olayemi said to break the cycle of malnutrition women must be at the center of the development and governance as well as reduce food insecurity with nutrition-sensitive agriculture ( household vegetable farming).

On her part, a Clinical and Public Health Practitioner, Dr. Adepeju Adeniran said the social determinant of the health of households include income and social status, working conditions, education, access to health services, physical environment, social support and life coping skills.

Speaking as one of the panelists during the webinar, she emphasized that regular protein intake is essential for proper growth and development.

“Protein malnutrition manifests in the age group differently. Protein-energy malnutrition in children has also been linked to a higher risk of Non-communicable diseases in adulthood.”

Adeniran stated that some theories believe that many cultures that do not priorities protein intake in their diet exhibit global stunting and an inability to reach their growth potential as well as a lack of resistance to some diseases.

Adeniran, however, advised that the cost of protein malnutrition far outweigh its effect if not properly addressed.

According to her, on an individual level, the cost of malnutrition can be determined in the increased loss of direct and indirect income as well as potential income coupled with an increase in acute illnesses.

While on the social level, the cost of malnutrition can be determined by poor educational outcomes when childhood learning is difficult or affected.

Others include an increase in health care spending from sick individuals and greater risk to social (local, national or global health security, when individual health is not guaranteed).

She said women as the domestic implementer can be empowered to make a better choice in Nutrition.

She also highlighted that the key spot for intervention in a nutritional policy is information about food items, availability and affordability.