Nutritionists advocate healthy diets for non-communicable disease management in Nigeria

This call was made during a two-day professional retreat for Lagos State Health Service Commission Dietitian-Nutritionists. They highlighted that conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disorders are closely linked to dietary habits, and proper dietary management can help control these conditions and improve treatment outcomes. Professor Oyediran Oyewole, a Professor of Health Promotion and Education at the Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, emphasized integrating dietitians into patient management for non-communicable diseases, advocating for a "behavioral change before drugs" approach.

He noted that many patients are prescribed drugs without considering dietary changes, and that dietitians are often undervalued as "supporting staff." Ojo Rebbeca Olufunke, HSC Director, Career Management, called for the integration of dietetics into multidisciplinary care, stating that nutrition care should be part of a patient's overall care plan. Dr. Olufemi Omololu, Permanent Secretary, LSHSC, advised nutritionists to embrace technology, improve knowledge, and conduct research to standardize their practices.

Samuel Akinyode, Lagos State Coordinator, Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria, stressed the need for robust nutrition surveillance