Food fortification a healthy necessity

Elias Mhegera
May 2011
TANZANIANS from all walk of lives have been reminded once again to share knowledge on food fortification in order to avoid micronutrient deficiencies.

The call came from a one day seminar that was organized by the World Bank in Tanzania which brought together experts from nutritionists, medical doctors to journalists in order to discuss better ways of disseminating education on food fortification.

Researches have so far revealed that lack of staple food fortification costs Tanzania more than 650bn/- each year. It was under such circumstances that experts sought for shared information on food fortification which is an intentional addition of vitamins and minerals to staple foods.

It was observed that although cases of goiter which were once very much pronounced in this country have been reduced to large extent but there are still many cases of 'sipina bifida' and Hydrocephalus which are a result of micronutrient deficiencies.

The mentioned cases manifest themselves in many forms whereby some children are born with big heads, open spinal cords and a good number of them with very much reduced intelligence quotient and in extreme cases they die at tender ages.

Dr Othman Kiloloma, a Neurosurgeon from Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) narrated that the whole exercise of treating victims of micronutrient deficiencies is not only expensive but their operations are very tricky and delicate.

“About 600 victims of 'sipina bifida' and Hydrocephalus which are a result of such deficiencies are admitted at the Muhimbili National Hospital for operations each year, we better see now how prevention is better than cure,” he elaborated.

He called for expectant mothers to develop a culture of well preparedness by consuming foodstuffs which are rich in irons folic acid and other nutrients that are protective to bodies. To this effect he called all knowledgeable people of this country to share this knowledge with their family members.

Dr Kiloloma spoke at length on Neural Tube Defects (NTDs), saying that this is a mal-development in a fetus/ embryo with resultant anomalies in the brain and spinal cord and their surrounding structures he emphasized that although it all starts with malnutrition but the consequences are very devastating.

On prevalence of the problem he said that so far it is Worldwide-2 per 1000 live births. However such incidences are low in countries with p folic acid treatment to mothers during and before pregnancy.

In Tanzania the rate is 3.02 per 1000 live births according to Kinasha et al, 2002; The incidence and pattern of neural tube defects is more pronounced in Dar es Salaam and other nearby regions like Morogoro and Coast region, but he admits that this might be caused by the fact that such cases can easily be reported to hospitals because the costs are comparatively low.

The specialist acknowledges that some people in the hinterland might fail to report such cases because of beliefs in witchcraft, and for the fact that it is costly to come to the hospital and stay for many days while attending their patients.

He remarks that due to such deficiencies cerebral palsy is inevitable. To this extent the MOI hydrocephalus series receives patients from all over this country while the main mode of treatment is known technically as VP shunt.

He moreover clarifies that sporadically another kind of treatment known as ETV has been performed. Soon MOI will fully embark on ETV as the first line treatment for hydrocephalus. He appreciates the contribution of Government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as a partner in the treatment of NTDs at MOI. From the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) was an expert in nutrition Celestine Mgoba who said that it is estimated that until the country officially introduces the technology to have its foods fortified, it will continue losing about 150bn/- each year in decreased productivity caused by vitamins and mineral deficiencies.

The expert said that lack of knowledge in that area has caused severe problems whereby the average diet in many families is monotonous, deficient and poor in essential micronutrients.

Mgoba warns that the effects of the micronutrient deficiencies that occur in childhood are many and they can manifest themselves even more seriously at adulthood of the affected. He also gave an example of how iron deficiency in adults decreases work productivity by up to 17 per cent while the IQ of the victim is also affected.

Briefing of the developments in the field of nutrition and food fortification was the World Bank Tanzania Nutrition Specialist Ms Janneke Jorgensen who called for the Governments support for small industries in terms of technical support and tax exemptions so that they can manage the fortification costs.

Recent studies have proven that nutrients can reduce tumor-related pain in 65 percent of cancer patients while also they can more than double survival time in patients with inoperable lung cancer.