BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
Every prosperity starts at the womb of a mother as life begins in the post natal environment. Hence, mothers are advised to consume and feed their child food items both in the pre and post natal environment particularly in the first 100 days which are also said to be “Window of Opportunity”
If a child is undernourished in the first 1000 days, it will remain to be stunted- a problem which is likely irreversible and has a lifelong impact upon ones physical and intellectual ability. Nourishment determines cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of development.
In a bid to avert and prevent wasting stunting and underweight which put strong impact upon the development of a nation, the Ministry of Agriculture has given due concern for Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) along with Development Partners.
Needless to say that the pride for any nation is the health of its citizens’, and only and only well-nourished people will be healthy. To this effect, healthy diets, proper food habits, giving special attention to vulnerable groups is critical, said Dr. Girma Abebe former Senior Advisor at Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).
Determinants of food consumption pattern varies from preference- the decision of consumer what to consume or not; socio demographic factors such as age, physiological status; education, belief. Overall what one consumes determine his/her future and the fate of the nation, said Girma
According to the Advisor, diet diversity is the sum of the number of different food groups consumed over a given reference period. No single food can contain all required nutrients dietary diversity has been conjectured to have greater practical potential of meeting nutrient requirements. A more diversified diet is associated with a number of improved nutrition outcomes.
Determinants vary by context, cultural beliefs and taboos, social and income status, intra-household food distribution, market dynamics, knowledge, and gender, extent of technology related with food production, processing, preparation and storage.
Taboos, prohibition against consuming certain foods, is causing threats in widening option of food in Ethiopia though the practices are known to be virtually myths and sayings established on false beliefs. Mere avoidance of potential food (for whatever reason) does not in itself signify a food taboo; however, regular avoidance can turn into a tradition and eventually end up as a food taboo, he added.
The inherent traditions of food taboos and adulteration are problems that the country is unable to transcend and it forced the nation to pay a lot said Fanna Minwuyelet, Policy and Advocacy Specialist at Alive & Thrive Ethiopia. The situation appeared to be one of the factors for the limitation of diet diversity particularly on the amassed agrarian nation of the country.
She noted that in Ethiopia, pregnant mothers are prohibited from the diet tables of banana, nigger seed cabbage, sugar cane and others which end up in nutrition defect of the mother and the child.
As to the expert, diet diversity is considered low when the number of food groups consumed is below four food groups for a child and five food groups for women a day based on their respective reference values. Low dietary diversity is a particular problem in Ethiopia where the diet is frequently based on starchy staples e.g. teff, maize, sorghum, inset, and wheat
On the other hand, food taboos are also putting adversities on the food system particularly targeting young girls and woman. Young girls are advised to consume a diet often lacks animal-source foods, (meat, fish, eggs and dairy in some tradition) for unsupported reasons; but traditional beliefs.
However, no matter what the assumptions may be, there are initiatives to avert food taboos in rural and combat adulteration urban areas. There are also enabling environments – conditions that facilitate the occurrence of desired output or outcome in achieving Nutrition Security however food taboos and adulteration are yet potential barriers and posing threats upon the food system.
According to documents of the MoA, the current state of NSA in the agriculture sector is key component and strategic input to the food system of the country. In this regard, there are glittering successes in the areas of higher official engagement, the food and nutrition coordination offices at the federal level, the ongoing initiatives in the regional states coordination with the National Nutrition Policy (NNP) II signatories, technical cooperation MoA has with DP.
The launching of the National NSA Strategy with the goal to contribute to improving the nutritional status of children and women by increasing the quantity and quality of food available, accessible and affordable through fighting traditional food taboos and adulteration coupled with the National Nutrition Program II which leads and coordinates nutrition initiative in the country are the other important achievements.
The Seqota Declaration with the goal to improve nutrition save lives, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development, Zero Childhood Stunting by 2030 was also reported to be astonishing achievement and initiatives over few years, according to the Ministry.
The food and nutrition policy of Ethiopia which stretches the goal to attain optimal nutritional status at all stages of life at a level that is consistent with a high quality of life, productivity and longevity of life is the effort that have been undertaken to up line, meet food demands of the nation.
Moreover, food and nutrition policy directions will believe to alleviate complications through ensuring availability, accessibility and utilization of diversified, safe and nutritious foods in a sustainable way; ensure the safety and quality of foods from farm to table, improve postharvest management of agricultural food products.
The policy direction will also believe to Ensure optimum nutrition at all stages of life, provide of timely and appropriate food and nutrition emergency response for natural and manmade disasters; strengthen food and nutrition communication, establish and strengthen food and nutrition governance, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald April 17/2021
