By Hassan Zaggi
The Federal Government has advised Nigerians to be mindful of the choices they make so as to prevent themselves from common diseases and early preventable-deaths.
The Director Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Salma Anas Kolo, gave the advice at the bia-monthly media briefing in Abuja, yesterday.
She noted that the health ministry, over the years have been working hard to ensure that Nigerians imbibe good health choices to enable them live long.
Dr. Salma advised Nigerians to take their nutrition habit seriously, avoid smoking, excessive alcohol intake and sedentary lifestyle.
While charging Nigerians to be mindful of the choices they make, she said: “When we talk about healthy lifestyle, it is all about what we do and the choices we make. The choices you make about what you eat, your attitude towards your environment, the lifestyle you adopt including the way you spent your money.
“If you spent your money taking alcohol, they are choices you make, you can spent your money smoking Indian hemp, they are choices that you make. But we should know that every choice you make have an impact on your health and this is why we want to inform Nigerians to adopt healthy lifestyle.”
She emphasised the importance of drinking water, sleep and exercise regularly, stressing: “Of course, I will start by saying drink a lot of water. Water is supposed to be priceless. Nigerians should drink adequate water to ensure that they are well hydrated at all times whether it is during the cold or hot weather to maintain their hydration.
“Ensure adequate sleep minimum of 8 hours per day. It is very important and very critical so that you can refresh yourself.
“Exercise is very important and we must exercise ourselves, at least 30 minutes walk per day. If you cant do it everyday, most days of the week, you should walk to ensure that you are living healthy.”
Speaking specifically on eating habit, Dr. Salma said: “In terms of our eating habit which is very important and very significant, most Nigerians will say they have access only to carbohydrate foods, but Nigerians know that we have a lot of fruits, vegetables and we can also balance with different varieties of protein.
“So, its not just quantity because the most quantity you get is mostly from carbohydrate but that quality is vital which we can get from vegetables, minerals and you balance it also with some healthy fat.”
While giving strong warning on the use of Shisha, Dr. Salma said: “We use this opportunity to advise Nigerians to avoid the use of Shisha. Most of us who are working, we need to have a work life balance. You have to be alive before you can work.”
On child malnutrition, she said: “Nigeria constitutes, unfortunately, over 50 per cent of the burden of child malnutrition in Africa and 50 per cent of children that die under 5 years, are due to malnutrition.
“Nutritious food is very important. It is very important we have balance diet for our children.
“You can use locally available materials to achieve a balance diet for our children under 5 years old. We must start life with breast milk. We still emphasise the first 6 months of life should be exclusive breast feeding and then complemented with quality food for the next two years.”
On his part, the Director, Port Health Services (PHS) at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Geoffrey Okatubo, disclosed that his department had continued to heighten surveillance for all infections diseases in the country’s Ports, particularly for COVID-19, Monkey pox, Carribbean Congo haemo fever and Marburg Disease.
According to him, Port Health Services tracks passengers coming into the country.
“With current outbreak of Marburg Disease and Carribbean Congo our data shows that 96 % of passengers at the country airports are fully vaccinated.
“Between July to August, 422 fake cards have been detected and handed over. We therefore advice that vaccination cards should be gotten at the approved health facilities.”
He, however, reiterated that the Port Health Services is committed to effectively manage the borders health security.
