The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has told Nigerians to avoid excess intake of salt and sodium, saying it could cause hypertension and other heart diseases.
He said this in Abuja at a news conference to commemorate the 2024 Salt Awareness Week, with the theme: ”It’s Time to Shine the Spotlight on Salt.”
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms Daju Kachollom, Pate said that not less than 10 per cent of cardiovascular disease deaths are attributed to the burden of excess sodium consumption in Nigeria.
He said that there were varying estimates of the average daily intake of dietary sodium among Nigerian adults, ranging from 2.3 to 10 grams per day, while the intake of dietary salt ranged from 5.8 to 25 grams per day.
Pate said that this figure was significantly higher than the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations of a daily intake of 2 grams of sodium and 5 grams of salt.
Pate said that reducing sodium intake was crucial for controlling blood pressure, adding that this would help to prevent hypertension and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Citing a WHO report, Pate said that about 17.9 million lives were claimed as salt intake had a far-reaching impact on death, through high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
He said that implementing sodium reduction strategies could lead to significant healthcare savings, and also prevent costly medical treatments for diseases caused by high sodium intake.
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