Specifically, 49
per cent of women of reproductive age have anaemia, 24.3 per cent have low iron
stores and 12.7 per cent of them are iron deficient.
These
figures indicate that majority of the adolescent girls and women did not meet
the iron requirements of 20 milligrams per day as recommended by the Food and Agricultural
Organisation and, the World Health Organisation.
Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition in
which the red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying capacity is insufficient to
meet physiological needs of the body. The symptoms of anaemic condition
includes, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, shortages of breath and all
these militate against active living and human productivity as iron is critical
to learning process and energy for day to day activities.
This has raised serious concerns among relevant
stakeholders led by the Nutrition Society of
Nigeria, NSN, who said that iron is one of the most
prevalent micronutrient deficiencies globally, with almost one of every two
women of reproductive age being anemic in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos organised by Unilever
Nigeria in partnership with the NSN onthe impact of Iron deficiency anaemia in
Nigeria, Professor NgoziNnam, President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria said that
the causes of anaemia vary but that approximately fifty percent of the cases
are due to iron deficiency.
Speaking on a survey findings commissioned by Unilever
Nigeria focusing on iron deficiencyanaemia among women in Nigeria, Doctor
Folake Samuel, said that the preliminary research findings show that although
many Nigerian women are aware that we haverich iron sources of food in our
environment and its benefits as well as the consequences of iron deficiencies,
and a lot of them consume iron rich food, but however the consumption of iron
rich food is still low and this calls for action and intervention.
As such, a significant proportion of the women
frequently experience various symptoms of iron deficiency, Doctor Folake says
quoting the report.
The survey sampled 615 women aged 20- 45 years in
Lagos to access their level of awareness on iron deficiencies, iron rich food
and consequences of iron deficiencies.
“Looking at the awareness level of symptoms of iron
deficiency, 55 per cent of the women rated tiredness and fatigue as part of
daily life and know that when you suddenly become dizzy out of the blues, it is
the consequences of not eating enough iron rich food; pale complexion, being
another symptom of anaemia is also common in our society. Some people mistaken a
woman being pale as a sign of pregnancy, not knowing that it is an indicator of
beinganaemic,” she said.
Professor NgoziNnam added that adolescent girls and
pregnant women are the populations requiring the highest amount of iron intake
and are, therefore, most susceptible to iron deficiency adding that the typical
Nigerian diet is low in iron-rich foods, while cassava and cereals (high in
phytates which decreases iron absorption) are commonly eaten staples.
“Pregnant women, teenage girls and women of
reproductive age are among the most vulnerable to iron deficiency anaemia
because of high iron requirements. Increasing iron intake during adolescence to
prepare for pregnancy is crucial to decreasing the risk of iron deficiency
anaemia and negative birth outcomes.
“The commonly consumed traditional dishes may not provide sufficient iron to meet the requirements and it may be a challenge to manipulate these recipes as they are passed down from generation to generation. In Nigeria, mothers are the kitchen ‘gatekeepers’ and their adolescent daughters learn cooking behaviors from them,” she said.
MyriamSidibe,
Hygiene and Nutrition Social Mission Director, Africa,Unileversaid the aim of
the programme was to provide more sensitisation to the general public on the
importance of iron nutrients to the health of individuals.
She said that
women and children were the group of people more vulnerable to anaemia.
''These issues are
common among our women and teenage girls and these people are the bedrock and
foundation of the home and family which is the unit of the Nation.
''These are the critical people in the society and
their health is important to nation building; we need to take care of these
people," she said.
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