Professor Felix Ankomah Asante, Director, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research has identified poor eating habits as one of the major causes of diseases in humans.
Professor Felix Ankomah Asante, Director, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, delivering his Inaugural Lecture on the topic, “The Linkage between Agriculture, Nutrition and Health: Issues for Research and Policy,” at the University of Ghana (UG), said, there is the need for stakeholders to take a keen look at the linkage between agriculture, nutrition and health.
Prof Asante said non-communicable diseases, which can be addressed through good nutrition, is fast becoming responsible for deaths across the world.
He said the effects of poor nutrition, poses a great challenge to Africa with a number of negative effects on individuals, families and the entire socio-economic parlance.
“One in 10 people fall ill yearly from contaminated food, resulting in 42,000 deaths, a third being children under five years,” Prof Asante added.
He said food borne diseases such as typhoid, is highest in Africa, due to poor hygiene and inadequate food preparation conditions.
“Agricultural water projects can also create parasitic vectors, leading to diseases,” he said, adding that, malaria for example, had part of its roots from agricultural water projects, and is responsible for a significant number of deaths annually.
Prof Asante noted that, to effectively promote good health through paying more attention to food consumption, there is the need for stakeholders to come together, and brainstorm towards the formulation of workable policies.
He said there is also the need to identify food production systems with a view of ensuring, that these systems absolutely promote good nutrition.
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Source: GNA