The Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA), a non-profit civil society center, has held on 29th of September held a consultative forum on the elimination of trans-fatty acids in Ghana.
The forum organized by INSLA brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Food and Drugs Authority, and the University of Ghana to conduct advocacy campaigns to support policy measures that would include graphic health warnings on food labels and to produce educational materials on the dangers of trans-fats.
“The goal of this forum is to create awareness on the negative impact of TFAs and advocates for the elimination of TFA with the replacement of healthier oils and fats through the implementation of Ghana’s Public Health Act and WHO replace Trans Fat Technical package in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, “Mr. Benjamin Anabila, Director of INSLA said during his speech.
“He said: “ This initiative must be considered as the most matter of concern to all of us because all of us eat food and it unhealthy diet is considered as a key risk factor to NCDs.
MR Benjamin Anabila said, for the past years INSLA has consistently been working on health promotion and information and has worked closely with the relevant ministries and agencies of States.
Addressing the media, the media the deputy minister of health Hon. As Mahama indicated that eliminating trans fats is key to protecting the health and saving lives.
“WHO estimates that every year trans-fat intake leads to more than 500,000 deaths of people from Cardiovascular disease,” he said.
Hon. Asei Mahama said the elimination of trans-fatty acid is a laudable initiative and indicated the ministry’s readiness to support INSLA or all stakeholders to help curb the menace.
According to Mr. Mahama, all our diseases are associated with the food we eat, and all the food we eat goes through processing however almost all of us are exposed to diseases so, therefore, there is the need for us to step up our game.
He appealed to consumers to be very careful with the products they consume and also take note of the expiry dates of products.
Dr. Yamamoto Rain a representative of the WHO headquarters in Geneva noted, 41 countries have successfully protected their people bypassing best practice trans-fats elimination policies. Ghana has recognized the danger of trans-fats and has included a national policy commitment to eliminate trans-fats in alignment with its strategy for the management, prevention, and control of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases.
The trans-fats could be found in cakes, cookies, biscuits, packaged foods, cooking oils and spread and linked to over half a million deaths globally.
Source: Ghana Web
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