Chime Wants Dieticians To Discourage Junk Foods Consumption

Members of  Dietitians Association of Nigeria (DAN), have been charged  to embark on a nationwide  campaign to discourage the present  massive consumption of junk foods by children in the country.

Making the call  while receiving in audience, officials of the association at the Government House Enugu,  the state governor, Barrister Sullivan  I. Chime, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government SSG, Mr. Martin Iloh, noted that  the greatest challenge facing dietitians now in the country  was how to re-orientate Nigerian children on some of the dangers inherent in feeding exclusively on junk foods.

  His words: “I think if there is anything you can do to stop our  children from consuming junk foods and only feed on those foods that promote good health, you must have written your names in Guinness Book of Records.”

  Governor Chime, however, expressed the readiness of the state government  not only to  support them but also to do everything necessary to ensure the success of the association’s maiden national conference scheduled for the main hall of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Thursday September 10, this year.  

  He, made it clear that his administration is in love with  professional  bodies in view of their relevance as catalysts of economic growth.     

  Earlier in her speech, National President of the  Association , Dr. (Mrs) Chika Ndiokwelu, explained that the group was at the Government House to brief the governor on their forthcoming National Workshop/Conference and Annual General Meeting slated for  Enugu,  and to solicit the financial support of the Enugu State government.  

  Dr. Ndiokwelu, said that the association was counting on the support of government and well meaning Nigerians even as she reassured of their preparedness to partner with the state government to reduce infant and under-five morbidity and mortality.

  She noted that in order to prevent some diet-related diseases in adulthood, there was an urgent need to put in place programmes that would reduce infants and under-five mortality, adding that to achieve the millennium development goals 1,4 and 5, malnutrition rates among mothers and children must be checked.       

  Also speaking, the chairman of the local organizing committee, LOC, Mr. Gerald Ezeani, told the governor that the society had been fully mobilized for the conference with the theme “Nutrition and Dietetic Practice, Meeting the Challenges in the Emerging Dietary Patterns.”

  He further hinted that apart from the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, who would declare the conference open, the Minister for Health, Prof. Osotimehin, the Executive Director for Humanitarian Programmes for African Advancement, Lagos, Dr. John Egbuta, and the Chief Medical Director of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Dr. Anthony Mbah, are among over 800 participants expected at the occasion, and commended  dietitians in the country for their enthusiasm over the forthcoming national conference.