Nigeria has officially launched fortified rice pilot production starting in Kebbi state, Northwestern part of the country.
Launching the project in Abuja, the Nigerian Cordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Pate said the event signifies the beginning of renewed hope in voluntary rice fortification in Nigeria.
Dr Pate said though remarkable achievements had been made in ensuring compliance with fortification standards by the industry to improve the quality of fortified foods, challenges such as access to the fortified foods by the population most susceptible to micronutrients deficiency has continued to impede these successes.
He said beyond food fortification, other nutrition strategies and intervention adopted by the government to curb the increasing rates of micronutrient deficiency include, dietary supplementation, micronutrient supplementation, infant and young children feeding, biofortification, industry fortification of foods.
Micronutrient Deficiencies
“Global evidence shows that persistent micronutrient deficiencies lead to serious health issues such as reduced resistance to infectious disease , blindness, lethargy, reduced leaning capacity, mental retardation and in some cases, death” Dr Pate added.
“Rice fortification is a straightforward process. It involves blending fortified Rice kernel made primarily from broken rice with micronutrients and water.” He said
The Minister urged all partners to collaborate with the ministry and its Technical Committee on Rice Fortification for a coordinated effort and maximum impact.
The Country Director of the Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition, GAIN, Dr Michael Ojo, said the event marked a sustainable stride in the united effort to combat malnutrition in Nigeria particularly the hidden hunger of micronutrients deficiencies.
According to Dr. Ojo, GAIN has been an unwavering ally to the Nigerian government in battling malnutrition in all its forms.
“By 2027, we aim to improve the access of 1.5 billion people globally to nutritionally enhanced staple foods, improve the access of 25 million people globally to healthier diets, and support positive food system transformation across the countries we work in” he said
Malnutrition
“Unfortunately, Nigeria’s malnutrition situation is alarming at the moment, and there is evidence that it may be getting worse with so many contributory factors like conflict, climate, and population growth,” he remarked.
Dr. Ojo said, given Nigeria’s substantial rice consumption rates, fortifying it presents a promising way to boost the nutritional status of millions of people.
“I applaud the Nigerian government for its unwavering commitment to enhancing nutrition outcomes through a variety of interventions, from food protection initiatives like school feeding programmes,” said GAIN Country Director.
The fortified rice project is co-implemented by the global Alliance For Improved Nutrition, GAIN, and the World Food Programme WFP, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry Of Health in collaboration with other key ministries, departments and agencies of government with the mandate to deliver nutritious safe food to Nigerians.
Shakirat Sadiq
