Abigail Kanu
The Nutrition Society of Nigeria has reaffirm its commitment to promoting the health and well-being of all Nigerians as it calls for adequate nutrition across the lifecycle post COVID-19 pandemic to avoid malnutrition.
The society noted that the pandemic is mopping up the financial resources of households, communities, states, and nations, and disrupting the food system and existing strategies to address the high burden of malnutrition in Nigeria.
The burdens include: the social protection programmes for different age groups, cash transfer programmes, school feeding programme for school-age children in public schools, community management of acute malnutrition, among other existing initiatives.
In the words of the President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Dr. Bartholomew Brai FNSN, it is important to synergise efforts by all stakeholders to effectively manage the pandemic, promote adequate nutrition during the pandemic, and reduce post-COVID-19 burden and severity of malnutrition.
The society further recommended that nutrition should be addressed across the lifecycle among newborns, infants and young children.
“Currently, there is no evidence of transmission of COVID-19 through breastfeeding. breastmilk alone –without accompaniments like water – remains the safest and most nutritious meal for infants aged 0 to six months. Therefore, exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding up to the age of 24 months should be sustained,” he added.
According to Brai, mothers in isolation should be encouraged to express their breastmilk using a dedicated breast pump and observe hand hygiene and disinfection of pump and other utensils.
He said: “Expressed milk should be fed to the newborn by a healthy caregiver. During rooming-in, mothers should put on a facemask and practice hand hygiene before putting the newborn to the breast.”
Food group
The NSN also noted that complementary foods should cover at least four food groups and be served warm.
Recommended meal frequencies are between two and three times a day for ages six and eight months, and three to four times daily for ages nine and 23 months for a breastfed child.
For a non-breastfed child aged six and 23 months, meal frequency should be at least four times a day to provide adequate nutrition.
School-Age Children
School-age children, especially those in public schools and benefit from existing school feeding programmes may be particularly disadvantaged.
The president urged parents to provide an extra meal per day for these children where they are capable. “The Federal Government effort to sustain the school feeding programme during the lockdown is commendable; we recommend additionally, the use of community structures to reach the beneficiaries and extend the coverage of the feeding programme”.
Adolescents and Adults
Appropriate diet and lifestyle measures are important to sustain body immunity and promote health and well-being. The lockdown offers the opportunity to reinforce health-promoting lifestyle including diet, sleep (about eight hours daily) and physical activity.
Micronutrients are critical for health and essential in strengthening the immune system, thus eat fresh and varieties of foods like roots/tubers and cereals and legumes. Meat, poultry and fish, milk and milk products. Fruits and vegetables (about one-third of food plate). Nuts and seeds.
Hydration is vital, thus intakes of about six to eight cups of water daily is recommended.
Limit salt and sugar intake
Choose healthy snacks over pastries and limit consumption of soft drinks, alcohol and spirits.
In the case of food price hikes, individuals could select alternative foods to replace usual food items. Cocoyam or sweet potato can be purchased instead of yam, white beans may be an alternative to red variety, low priced fish or edible insects may be alternative animal foods among others.
Though transmission through food is not likely, proper food hygiene should be maintained. Handwashing should be observed after returning home, and before preparing or eating food. Food items should be washed thoroughly under running water or using vinegar.
Currently, there is no evidence on the efficacy of any dietary supplements or herbs in the prevention and management of COVID-19, every case should, therefore, be reported to the State Team for follow up and proper management.
At this time, children should not accompany adults to the markets, shopping mall, supermarkets and other public places. Social distancing and home-stay should be religiously adhered to. This may lead to reduced physical activity with the resultant effect on energy balance, however, safe, home-based physical activities such brisk-walk within your compound, jumping jacks, skipping, push-ups, and running may be helpful, especially for overweight and obese individuals.
Individuals are encouraged to make provision for own wipes and hand sanitiser where possible and use periodically.
COVID-19 Infected Persons
Nutrition support is a component of health care and should be included in the management of COVID-19 patients with attention on energy, protein and fluid balance maintenance. Also, following high mortality among older people affected by COVID-19, adequate nutrition and management of secondary conditions/infection of the older population should be ensured.
The society calls on the Federal and State Governments to ensure the provision and proper use of personal protective equipment and hand sanitisers by all health workers and support staff to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Likewise, periodic disinfection of surface systems including doorknobs, doorways, tables, shopping cart/basket handles, elevator buttons and scales in supermarkets, market stalls, clinics, and other public facilities should be enforced.
Communities
Loss of purchasing power, food price hikes, and panic purchase already exist, the government should make efforts to stabilise food supply and regulate food prices.
Suggested measures include the release of food stocks from grain reserves, tax relief on food items, relaxation of the restriction on food distribution channels, and scale-up support for smallholder farmers. In addition, food surveillance system including monitoring of food prices is recommended.
Lastly, Government and other stakeholders should make efforts to provide food and nutrition support to indigent households, intensify community management of acute malnutrition and similar ongoing interventions, and scale up existing social protection programmes especially for the older population.
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