Prof Oladapo Otolorin Angela Onwuzoo Daily, as Nigeria’s food crisis worsens amid rising economic hardship, senior medical practitioners are concerned that the situation could drive many Nigerians into depression and increase the number of people living with hypertension. They noted that persistent hunger is dangerous and does a lot of harm to the body, making it susceptible to diseases due to low immunity. The maternal and mental health experts noted that hardship, hunger, and poverty are major social determinants of health and can significantly impact an individual’s mental and physical well-being.
The organised private sector recently blamed worsening insecurity in the country on food inflation, which rose to 40.87 per cent in June 2024, up from 25.25 per cent in June 2023.
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday showed that the rise in food inflation in June 2024 represented a 15.62 per cent point increase year-on-year and a 2.55 per cent rise month-on-month.
The professors said that due to the prevailing harsh economy in the country, many households were finding it difficult to have three square meals. They warned the Federal Government not to ignore the United Nations’ prediction that 82 million Nigerians, which is about 64 per cent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030. Meanwhile, a global non-governmental organisation, the International Rescue Committee, recently added Nigeria as one of the spots for food insecurity action aga.