Scribes called on to fight malnutrition
Dec 05, 2010
JOURNALISTS have been called upon to join the fight against malnutrition through food fortification for better health and development.
JOURNALISTS have been called upon to join the fight against malnutrition through food fortification for better health and development.
Food fortification is the strengthening of foods of low nutritional value by adding vitamins and iron.
The head of food fortification at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Dr. Mildred Okello, made the call during a one-day sensitisation workshop for journalists in the northern region at Gracious Place Hotel in Lira town recently.
Okello said the media acts as a mouth piece for the rural population. “There is need for food fortification, supplementation and diet diversification to address the micronutrient problem for all Ugandans regardless of their socio-economic status, geographic location or level of education,†she said.
According to a research conducted by the UNBS recently, about four out of 10 Ugandans live on non-fortified foods, putting them at risk of low life expectancy.
The life expectancy of Ugandans is at 45 years. Earlier, Ronald Afidra from the Uganda Consumers Protection Association had asked proprietors of media houses to develop programmes that address the need for fortified foods.
Food fortification is the strengthening of foods of low nutritional value by adding vitamins and iron.
The head of food fortification at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Dr. Mildred Okello, made the call during a one-day sensitisation workshop for journalists in the northern region at Gracious Place Hotel in Lira town recently.
Okello said the media acts as a mouth piece for the rural population. “There is need for food fortification, supplementation and diet diversification to address the micronutrient problem for all Ugandans regardless of their socio-economic status, geographic location or level of education,†she said.
According to a research conducted by the UNBS recently, about four out of 10 Ugandans live on non-fortified foods, putting them at risk of low life expectancy.
The life expectancy of Ugandans is at 45 years. Earlier, Ronald Afidra from the Uganda Consumers Protection Association had asked proprietors of media houses to develop programmes that address the need for fortified foods.