By Dan-Maryam Zayamu
The consumption of excess salt can lead to chronic illnesses which can further lead to premature death, expert has warned.
The Spokesman for the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED)-a coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Dr Jerome Mafeni, gave the warning at the formal launch of the coalition for campaign against high salt (sodium) intake, in Abuja, yesterday.
Dr. Mafeni who is also the Director and Project Adviser, Campaign for Reduction of Salt in Commercially Produced Food, warned that: “If you take too much salt, you will get heart disease and if you get heart disease, whether it is hypertension, heart failure or stroke, it will lead to premature death.”
While advocating for drastic reduction in the amount of salt intake, he said: “So, if you begin to reduce the amount of salt you consume from food that you eat, then there is a very good chance that you will not get those heart diseases, and you will live long, live healthy, and not going to the hospital or take drugs everyday for the rest of your life.”
He warned on the dangers of the excessive intake of the noddles, as according to him, noddles contain high amount of salt.
“Those that consumed excessive noddles should also reduce it. Anything you consume that has too much salt should be cut down, cut it out or shake it out,” he stressed.
He disclosed that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working to ensure reduction of high salt intake have collaborated with agencies of government including the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure processed foods in the country do not contain too much salt.
“We have been collaborating with NAFDAC for several years on various issues, at the start of this campaign, we definitely have been in-touch with both the Federal Ministry of Health Department of Food and Drug Services as well as well with NAFDAC, the agency mandated to regulate all the foods that we consumed.
“NAFDAC is fully onboard and is very appreciative of this initiative and is willing to corporate with us.
“The agency was stimulus in creating this coalition. They have asked us to start the process, bring together all the disparity voices under one umbrella so that they can now engage with one single body and push for appropriate regulation, policies to protect the lives of Nigerians.”
Speaking on the relevance of the coalition, he said: “We are here today because we have tried to put together a national coalition of CSOs, none-state actors, both nationally and internationally, to come together to begin the campaign to get Nigerians to reduce intake and consumption of salt, particularly on commercially produce food that are prepared with very high salt.”
On her part, while responding to questions from journalists, the In-Country Coordinator of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Joy Amafah, revealed that they have, over the years, engaged in high level advocacy for public health policies in an effort to reduce cardiovascular diseases.
“Our advocacy strategies are really wide and broad, we do high level engagement, engaging with decision makers, bringing issues of the subject matter to the national agenda, engaging with civil coalition, individuals, groups and organisations with similar interest with the aim of pushing agenda forward.”
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