Joy Amafah, Nigeria In-Country Coordinator, Cardiovascular Health Program for Global Health Advocacy Incubator, GHAI, has tasked Nigerian citizens to support the #TransfatFreeNigeria campaign and play key roles towards ensuring the elimination of trans fatty acids in the food supply chain.
Amafah made this known while speaking at a monthly online programme organized by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) as part of the #TransfatFreeNigeria campaign. Themed ‘TFA Regulations: The Citizens’ Role , the session was moderated by Blessing Oladunjoye, Publisher of BONews Service.
Amafah shared that TFA regulations is the sustainable way of eradicating TFAs in the food supply chain and it is essential that citizens engage with political actors and decision makers at various levels, to ensure that the regulation is passed.
Amafah also noted that the elimination of TFAs in the supply food chain is imperative because consumption of TFAs is the leading cause of non-communicable diseases like Stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart diseases etc., which in the long run overburdens the health sector.
She also charged that, “you need to add your voice to the campaign because if you keep mum, you’re selling your right to health. Read up information to help you understand the impacts of TFAs, read about the global efforts which would reveal what other countries are doing to eliminate TFAs and you can engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that TFA regulations are passed.
“iTFA is a huge burden to our health system, let’s work together to make it a thing of the past,” Amafah added.
The public health expert thereafter advised Nigerians against producing partially hydrogenated oils in the home by reusing and bleaching of cooking oils.