Food-Borne Diseases: Nigeria’s Productivity Loss At $7bn
According to Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health, Nigeria’s productivity loss from food-borne diseases amounts to $7 billion which is the highest in Africa.
Dr. Ehanire stated this on Thursday in Abuja during a special panel discussion that had been organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) for the commemoration of this year’s World Food Safety Day with its 2022 theme being “Safer Food, Better Health”.
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“The 2016 World Bank estimates put Nigeria’s productivity loss from food borne diseases about $7 billion , the highest in Africa, in addition to loss in earnings in foreign exchange due to international market due to unsafe application of chemicals. Contaminated food leading to export rejection causes economic loss and waste.”
Dr. Ehanire said that in order to modernize Nigeria’s food safety structure to international standards, the federal government is currently reviewing the National Policy on Food Safety and the implementation of hygiene practices.
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the WHO representative to Nigeria, stated that Nigeria needed to continuously improve her food supply chains so as to prevent infectious and toxic hazards, microbial pathogens, chemical residues, biotoxins and other noxious substances from getting into our food.
Dr. Mulombo, who was being represented by Dr. Alex Chimbaru, the WHO Deputy Country Representative, explained that the theme for this year draws the attention and need to mobilize action to prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks and improve human health.
