Cardiovascular Diseases: Enugu govt calls for sustained advocacy against trans-fatty acids

Enugu State government on Saturday urged journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to sustain current advocacy against trans-fatty acids to check rising cardiovascular diseases.
The state Commissioner for Health, Ikechukwu Obi, made the call while addressing a journalism training session on trans-fat reporting organised by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a CSO.
Trans-fatty acids, also called trans-unsaturated fatty acids, are a type of unsaturated fat that naturally occurs in small amounts in meat and milk fat.
Mr Obi noted that journalists were critical stakeholders in health education and awareness and charged them to ensure they give factual and understandable health information that would benefit the public.
He said journalists should not allow medical professionals to dazzle them with health terminologies but always ask the medical professionals to break down their technical jargon for easy comprehension.
“Journalists should try as much as possible to simplify medical terms for clear understanding by the layman.
“Accurate information passed in an easily understandable language will ensure that misconceptions and misinterpretation are checked in health reporting,’’ he said.
The commissioner also said that Nigerians have to be mindful of what they eat and check fatty and oily intakes to stem the tide of cardiovascular diseases.
Mr Obi lauded NAFDAC for producing a draft regulation to check the use and consumption of industrial TFAs.
He assured journalists and other stakeholders in the fight against TFAs of the government’s collaboration to ensure that “we conquer, as we have done in Ebola, Polio and other diseases’’.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Health
Malnutrition: Red Cross urges northern govs to declare state of emergency in health sector
Aminu Abdullahi, the acting director of healthcare at NRCS, stated that malnutrition remained one of the most underreported health issues in the country.

Education
Bill to establish varsity of science in Gombe scales second reading
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau commended the sponsor of the bill on his passion for the educational development of Gombe State and the North-East in general.

Politics
2027: Opposition coalition in Gombe adopts ADC
Idris Umar, a former Minister of Transportation, said the coalition aimed to rescue Gombe from hardship.

Economy
Dangote Refinery reduces ex-depot price of fuel to N820 per litre
It would be recalled that the company last week reduced its ex-depot price from N880 to N840 per litre.

NationWide
FG launches passport front office for senior public officials
Mr Tunji-Ojo said the office has a specialised facility designated to facilitate a timely and seamless passport process.

Kano
EFCC quizzes man over undeclared $420,900, £5,825, CFA3.95 million cash
Mr Oyewale said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation was concluded.