There is sufficient evidence that immunity against diseases is boosted by good nutrition, hence the need for conscious strategies for public education on the need to use nutrition to tame Covid-19.
Notably, the Ministry of Health has developed guidelines for nutrition management of patients and health workers in Covid-19 treatment and isolation centres.
The detailed document provides a step-by-step account of what health workers should feed patients at different stages of recovery. But the well-thought out guidelines should be cascaded, simplified and, if need be, translated to local languages for comprehension by communities to encourage them to grow the prescribed food crops.
FIGHT DISEASES
Most Africans must work to put food on the table. Being active, they have the ability to fight diseases. President John Magufuli was quoted as saying his Tanzanian compatriots are active and resilient enough to fight the coronavirus.
Exercises are as important in improving immunity, as are continuous hydration of the body, consumption of fibre and reduction of alcohol, salt, fat and sugar intake.
Unhealthy diets worsen pre-existing conditions, further lowering the immunity level. The World Health Organization (WHO) says unsafe foods caused 600 million illnesses and 420,000 deaths in 2010.
Most pre-existing conditions — such as severe obesity, heart disease and diabetes — are diet-related. It should, therefore, worry nutritionists that people living with such conditions have been found to suffer more serious consequences of Covid-19, including severer illnesses and a greater need for intensive healthcare management.
The government has been vigilant but should do more. It should take care of vulnerable communities — such as in low-income areas, the poor, refugees and the others in overcrowded conditions who have little access to basic services.
WHO statistics show 19.57 per cent of the Sub-Saharan African population live in moderate to severe food shortage situations, which is likely to worsen since, to survive in crises, people turn to cheaper, less nutritious foods.
COMPROMISE IMMUNITY
More than 62 million children under five suffer from malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, compromising immunity and, hence, putting them at the risk of coronavirus.
Notably, even with partial lockdown of some areas, the food supply chain has remained constant, thanks to the government categorising food suppliers as essential service providers.
Unlike a few in the higher-income brackets, most Kenyans do not have the means to stockpile foods with a high nutritional value. They need, therefore, to be continually supported to attend work daily in person to be able to buy food, even if in small quantities.
There is also a need to map out areas and regions that require additional livelihood support with a view to providing essential food supply to they that need it most.
Besides, the government should conduct more robust promotion of healthy diets to boost the much-needed immunity as well as educate communities on how to use foods on Covid-19 patients.
The locust invasion is also a threat to food production. There is a need for sustainable measures to deal with the crisis so that it does not compromise production and distribution of food, which is critical during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prof Kiptoo, professor of immunology, is the CEO of Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). [email protected]
