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.
The programme, in partnership with the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), combined grassroots market activations with social media engagement to address what he described as a silent public health crisis.
“We are trying to create awareness to public on what the Federal Ministry of Health is doing on the initiative that we are taking in trying to reduce salt.
“We are also making people aware of the dangers of excessive salt intake.”
He lamented that many Nigerians did not even read the labels of the things they bought, however, he was optimistic that with education and sensitisation, changing behaviour would be gradual.
“We are trying to do it step by step, until every Nigerian is aware.”
Also, Dr Olawale Ogulana, a medical doctor, health advocate and brand ambassador for CCSI, stressed the need to cut dependence on high-sodium seasoning cubes.
He also linked it to the rising hypertension rates in the country.
He urged households to return to traditional cooking methods and natural spices such as ginger, garlic and onions.
He warned that the growing preference for quick meals was eroding healthier culinary traditions.
“As a medical doctor, I will encourage using natural spices in your meals.
“We are not saying that your meals should not be tasty, but it shouldn’t be with high levels of sodium, because that in itself will put us at risk”.
He noted that excessive salt consumption was putting millions of Nigerians at risk of hypertension, stroke and kidney damage, urging citizens to monitor their daily intake and read food labels carefully.
“Elevated salt consumption is a risk factor for hypertension or high blood pressure,” he said, noting that many people were unaware of the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of no more than five grams of salt a day, about 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 on different health programmes and shift public behaviour on health.
She noted that the campaign had been running for over a year, “driving it majorly on social media’’.
However, she said that there were new communication products from the event to be duplicated on diverse platforms.
“In Lagos, the goal is to record health advice for at least 500 people, with a stretch target of 1,000.
“If God willing, and I have enough time, I don’t mind hitting 1,000 records” she said.
