ADDIS ABABA- Following the outbreak of COVID-19, various works and researches are underway to prevent the possible public’s health problems that would occur as a result of malnutrition, Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) announced.
EPHI Food Science and Nutrition Research Department Deputy Director Dr.Aregash Samuel told The Ethiopian Herald that malnutrition is a critical health problem in Africa including Ethiopia; therefore, different researches are underway to prevent the problem from escalating due to COVID-19.
COVID -19 Response and Management Committee has been established and many researchers are now proposing different research agendas. So the responsibility of the committee is to screen these national studies and decide which research will be put into action, particularly in the context of nutrition, she noted.
As to EPHI, different researches briefings have been preparing to provide accurate and updates information on research-based information to policy makers, research and decision-makers by the National Data Management Center.
In addition to, there is Cost Diet Project. The project target is being done to identify at what cost the low income community should have a healthy diet and get into the implementation. “We are preparing a bulletin using government information at the national and regional levels to determine how much an individual should spend on eating a healthy diet.”
EPHI is working closely with various researchers and Ministry of Health to generate scientifically sound information on the characteristics of local diet by promoting nutritional quality and food safety as well as enhancing useful food processing and preservation technologies, she said.
The Government of Ethiopia has been taken bold actions to significantly reduce all forms of malnutrition among the most vulnerable groups, young children and pregnant and lactating women. Nevertheless, under-nutrition among children and women remains an urgent concern, requiring multi-sectoral efforts, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian herald may 26/2020
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
