Alma Anas-Kolo Ibrahim, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Health, has urged immediate action to tackle the increasing problem of hypertension in Nigeria.
Ms. Ibrahim made this appeal on Friday during a ceremony where she and Olusina Ajidahun were officially appointed as policy champions and social media influencers for salt regulation in Nigeria.
The event was organized by the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED).
As the newly appointed policy champion, Ms. Ibrahim emphasized the importance of public education and policy measures to address cardiovascular diseases, which are placing a significant burden on the nation’s health system.
She also pointed out troubling statistics showing that around 38.1 percent of Nigerian adults are affected by hypertension, meaning that one in every three adults suffers from this condition.
“This high prevalence, coupled with excessive salt intake, estimated at 10 grams per meal, is double the recommended limit of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It contributes to 10 per cent of cardiovascular disease-related deaths in the country,” she said.
She emphasized the need to follow the WHO’s recommendation of consuming less than two grams of sodium per meal, which is less than one teaspoon of salt.
Ms. Ibrahim noted that current dietary practices, which heavily depend on salt in both home-cooked and processed foods, worsen the problem.
“The high sodium intake, compounded by rapid urbanisation and changing lifestyles, underscores the need for urgent and sustained public health interventions,” she said.
Ms. Ibrahim committed to using her platform to increase awareness about the dangers of excessive salt consumption and the benefits of reducing it.
She stressed the importance of involving stakeholders from various sectors such as government agencies, healthcare professionals, and the private sector to develop and enforce effective policies and regulations.
Additionally, the special adviser introduced the “Peabody Youth Campaign for Health,” a new initiative designed to educate and empower young people to promote healthier eating habits.
She promised to work with social media influencers and other collaborators to disseminate essential health information throughout Nigeria.
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