The civil society scaling-up nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in collaboration with the association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPH),  has urged  the government at all levels in Nigeria to improve food safety through public awareness campaigns and that citizens must ensure the food on their table are safe.

This is in commemoration of the 2015 world health Day with the theme “Safe and nutritious food, a panacea to fighting malnutrition and diseases among infants, young children and women of reproductive age”.

Dr. Terfa Simon Kene, chairman Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria FCT branch, who addressed reporters at the briefing lamented that, unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, virus, or chemical substances causes over 200 disease ranging from diarrhea to cancers and the World Health Organization estimates that food borne and waterborne diarrheal diseases kill an estimated 2 million people annually with 40% occurring in children.

The CS-SUNN reiterated that safe and nutritious food is necessary for the growth of infants and children, considering that today, the food chain extend over thousands of kilometers. The group stressed that if Nigeria must move forward, government must at all levels create enabling environment for multisectoral dialogue and coordination especially between health, agriculture, trade and environment sectors for the protection of the food chain.   Adding that awareness about the need to protect the food chain must be consistent to ensure food is safe for consumption.

Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Secretary for FCT Primary Health Care Board who also addressed reporters emphasized that food safety is a shared responsibility for every individual “if there is doubt over a safe food, do not eat” food should be safe and eaten in a manner that is not harmful.