OFSP: A PANACEA TO VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY AND MALNUTRITION IN NIGERIA

Vitamin A Deficiency is a serious and widespread public health in developing countries of the world with Nigeria inclusive. The main causes of Vitamin A Deficiency include inadequate intake of Vitamin A due to a poor diet and frequent infections, especially worms, measles, diarrhea and respiratory infections.

This deficiency is one of the major health problems affecting young children, pregnant women and lactating mothers in developing in developing countries as it leads to poor growth and development, increased risk of infection and severity of infection, eye problem and death.

An estimated eight hundred and sixty-one thousand Nigerian children die before the age of five annually while over a third of these deaths are attributed to undernutrition as a result of low rates of exclusive breastfeeding, poorly timed introduction of complementary foods and a high prevalence of deficiencies of essential micro-nutrient.

Studies have shown that Vitamin A Deficiency and under-nutrition generally, limit the intellectual potential of individuals affected, undermining economic and social development. Also, the cognitive and physical damage caused by chronic under-nutrition, particularly in the one thousand days between pregnancy and age two, is largely irreversible while populations that are under-nourished have lower individual productivity, reduced physical capacity, higher health care costs and lower economic output, thereby impeding the nation’s economic growth.

The World Bank also estimates in a report that under-nutrition significantly impacts lifetime earning potential and reduces Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by up to three per cent. No doubt, food insecurity and malnutrition in rural areas of Nigeria result from non-implementation and inadequate implementation of the National Food and Nutritional Policy and National Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition.

To this end, treating Vitamin A Deficiency is established as one of the most effective ways to increase child survival and this could be achieved by scaling-up Vitamin A supplementation programme, food fortification with Vitamin A and food-based approaches that encourage diet diversification and promote Vitamin A rich foods, including bio-fortified foods.

To utilize Vitamin A rich sweetpotato called Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) to combat Vitamin A Deficiency in Nigeria, Helen Keller International and International Centre for Potato (CIP) have been championing advocacy and production of OFSP in selected countries with Nigeria inclusive through the Reaching Agents of Change in selected states to raise investment for the production and consumption of Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato is extremely rich in bioavailable beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A and its consumption is the easiest way to combat Vitamin A Deficiency in children under five years of age and women of reproductive age.

Hence, one small root or one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five grams of most OFSP varieties can supply the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A for children under five as it is believed that in many parts of Africa, access to fortified foods may be limited by availability and purchasing.

Policy makers must therefore create a budget line for OFSP in relevant ministries because apart from the nutritional value of OFSP, it also assists in immune boosting of a child and prevents all forms of life-threatening diseases while it equally serve as opportunity to empower the teeming youths in value chain with a view to coming up with varieties of products made from OFSP and thereby improve the economy.

Abdulrosheed Okiki