Increased intake of indigenous foods panacea to protein-energy malnutrition — Experts

Experts have advocated increased consumption of indigenous foods  like soybean, sesame seeds, locust beans, groundnut, melon, edible maggots and  African pear to tackle malnutrition crisis in the country.

Dr Beatrice Oganah-Ikujenyo, a Chief Lecturer, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos, who spoke at the fourth Protein Challenge Webinar with the theme: ‘Protein Deficiency in a Pandemic’, said that these foods were underexploited  despite being more nutritious.

Oganah-Ikujenyo, a nutritionist, stated that locally available foods like cocoyam, sesame seeds, locust beans, groundnut, melon, edible maggots, African pear (ube), leafy vegetables and soybeans were loaded with proteins and healthy elements which can stem malnutrition.

She declared that foods do not necessarily have to be expensive to be healthy but urged that at all times, people’s diets should include all classes of food stipulated in the food group pyramid.

Dr Oganah-Ikujenyo said individuals should adopt cooking practices which help retain the nutrients in the foods such as steaming, roasting, baking and boiling and urged people to engage in home gardening to augment what has to be bought.

Dr Monica Omo-Irefo, a Principal Medical Officer, Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja, said Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM), a form of malnutrition could be life-threatening and is linked to 45 per cent of deaths among children under the age of five years.

According to her, this form of malnutrition can be treated using locally available foods such as Kwash-Pap, Dietrend and RUTF.

“Kwash-Pap is made using raw guinea corn pap, raw egg, banana, sugar, oil and milk. Dietrend is maize, groundnut and soybeans. While RUTF (Ready to Use Therapeutic Food) is made up of milk, peanuts, sugar, vitamins and minerals. All these have been tried and tested methods of treating malnutrition”, she said.

A public health physician, Dr Adepeju Adeniran, said COVID-10 had worsened malnutrition crisis in the country  because the food supply chain was severely threatened during the lockdown period as farmers, transporters and food sellers were restricted in movements.

She declared: “Availability of food groups dropped, prices of foods went up, household earnings went down, scarcity of food by displacement occurred from the rural producers to the urban consumers. Animal proteins take a long time to produce; humans consume mostly the adult form of animal proteins. Even dairy and eggs can only be produced by adult animals, which must have time to grow and develop.”

Dr Adeniran, however, advocated a well-designed processing and storage systems to augment the effects of COVID-19 on nutrition.

—Sade Oguntola

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

ICYMI: Presidential Panel On Police Reforms Agrees To Meet All Demands By #EndSARS Protesters

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has convened a meeting with stakeholders and has agreed to meet all demands raised by the #EndSARS protesters, which include halting use of force against protesters and unconditional release of arrested citizens.

Lagos To Compensate Victims Of #EndSARS Protest With N200m ― Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the state government has earmarked N200million as compensation for families of victims of #EndSars protest.

I Was A Victim Of SARS Brutality Twice, Oyo Deputy Gov Tells Protesters

Oyo State deputy governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan revealed that members of the Nigerian Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have attacked him twice.

#EndSARS: Protesters Block Oyo Secretariat Main Gates (SEE VIDEO)

#ENDSARS protesters, on Tuesday, blocked the main gates leading to Oyo State government secretariat, demanding the total end to Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), saying no reformation of the disbanded police units should be carried in the Nigeria Police Force.

Buhari Nominates Lauretta Onochie, Three Others As INEC Commissioners

President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated his Special Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie and three others as National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).