Lagos: The Federal Government is leading a nationwide push to cut excessive salt intake, blaming its high consumption for rising cardiovascular disease in the country. Mr. Victor Osuagwu, Scientific Officer at the Department of Food and Drug Services of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, spoke during an outreach programme at Oke Arin Market in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the programme, in partnership with the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), combined grassroots market activations with social media engagement to address what Mr. Osuagwu described as a silent public health crisis. He emphasized the initiative’s aim to increase public awareness about the dangers of excessive salt consumption.
Mr. Osuagwu lamented that many Nigerians did not read the labels of the products they purchased. However, he remained optimistic that education and sensitisation would gradually change consumer behavior. ‘We are trying to do it step by step, until every Nigerian is aware,’ he stated.
Dr. Olawale Ogulana, a medical doctor, health advocate, and brand ambassador for CCSI, highlighted the need to reduce reliance on high-sodium seasoning cubes, linking them to the rising hypertension rates in the country. He advised households to revert to traditional cooking methods and use natural spices such as ginger, garlic, and onions.
Dr. Ogulana warned that the growing preference for quick meals was eroding healthier culinary traditions, emphasizing the risk of excessive salt consumption leading to hypertension, stroke, and kidney damage. He urged citizens to monitor their daily intake and read food labels carefully, noting the World Health Organization’s recommendation of no more than five grams of salt a day, approximately a teaspoon.
Ms. Anna White-Agbo, Media and Programme Officer at CCSI, explained that tailored communication and social media outreach were part of the campaign strategies to drive the messages to the grassroots and shift public behavior on health. She noted that the campaign had been running for over a year, primarily on social media, and mentioned that new communication products from the event would be shared across various platforms.
In Lagos, the campaign aims to provide health advice to at least 500 people, with a stretch target of 1,000.