LUSAKA, 23 August (IRIN): The planned fortification (berigelse) of Zambias staple food (grundnæringsmiddel), maizemeal, to combat high levels of malnutrition is meeting with public resistance.
About 50 percent of children aged under five and a third of women between the ages of 15 and 49 suffer from anaemia (blodmangel).
According to Eustine Besa, project officer for the maize fortification project, “by fortifying mealie meal (maizemeal), we shall be able to provide vitamin A supplementation to over 90 percent of the population. The micronutrients used in fortification have been tested – they are very safe and not harmful to human beings”.
An agreement was signed earlier this year between the government and the Geneva-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (ernæring) to fortify all maizemeal with vitamins A, B, iron and zinc.
The Zambia Consumers Association president, Muyunda Ililonga, endorsed the health aspects but said “it should have been made optional (frivillig) because it is not every Zambian who needs vitamin A supplementation. We need to give people the right to choose”.
Health experts warned that mandatory fortification (tvungen berigelse) of the staple food could be a health hazard to those with allergies and would leave no alternatives.
– What could be safe for one might not be safe for everyone. How food is used or produced may alter its safety, and safety is what every individual and government expects and desires, said Doreen Hikeezi, of the food technology department at the University of Zambia.
Freddie Mubanga, executive director of the government Food and Nutrition Commission, is responsible for implementing the initiative.
Mybanga said imported maize would also be fortified and commented that “issues of public health always override those of consumer choice – otherwise the nation will continue having stunted children if the necessary measures are not taken”.
Parliament is expected to make the fortification of maizemeal law when it convenes after next months general election.
If passed into law, Zambia will become the regions second country, after South Africa, to have obligatory fortification of maize. Zimbabwe and Malawi have completed trials of maizemeal supplements and Botswana is moving towards the mandatory fortification of sorghum (durra), its staple crop.
Vitamin A deficiency was first recognised as a health hazard in the 1960s and was immediately linked to high prevalence of blindness in northern Zambia.
Six years ago, government legislation made it mandatory for sugar companies to add vitamin A to their products. But a 2 kg packet of sugar costs between two and three US dollar, while about 68 percent of Zambians live below the World Banks poverty threshold of one dollar (5,90 DKR) a day.
Kilde: FN-bureauet IRINnews
