As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Salt Awareness Week, health experts have warned against excessive consumption of salt as it can lead to cardiovascular diseases.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Ms Kachollom Daju, made this known during the press briefing on World Salt Awareness in Abuja.
The minister added that the need for moderate consumption of salt is as a result of the harmful effects it has on human health.
The theme for this year’s World Salt Awareness is: “It’s Time to Shine the Spotlight on Salt.”
Prof. Pate noted that Nigeria was not immune to the global epidemic of hypertension and heart diseases and cautioned that “Salt has a far-reaching impact as the high salt intake contributes significantly to elevated blood pressure, a precursor to heart attacks and strokes.”
He said by reducing salt consumption, we can rewrite the narrative, sparing countless lives from premature death.
“The choices we make at our dining tables, the ingredients we stir into our pots, and the snacks we consume at moments of leisure all contribute to the silent escalation of health risks associated with high salt intake.
“Salt has a far-reaching impact as the high salt intake contributes significantly to elevated blood pressure, a precursor to heart attacks and strokes.”
WHO’s Country Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Molumbo, who was also represented, stated that “excessive salt consumption is linked to non-communicable diseases like high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, gastric cancer and kidney disease.”
Mulombo said the global average intake of sodium is more than double the WHO recommendation.
