The Federal Government has said that 25 per cent of diseases in Nigeria are caused by mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are toxic compounds that are naturally produced by certain types of moulds (fungi). They can grow on foodstuffs such as cereals, nuts spices and more.
Minister of State for Environment Sharon Ikeazor made this known in Abuja, at a two-day workshop on the prevention and control of mycotoxins in the food and the environment organised by the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria, EHORECON.
She noted that there were increased adverse health effects of mycotoxins on occupants of residential, office buildings, schools, agricultural and non-agricultural settings including food and food products in Nigeria.
The Minister, who was represented by her Special Adviser DPriscilla Achakpa, challenged environmental health experts to take sensitisation campaign to local communities on the danger of consuming food products contaminated with the disease.
The Registrar, Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria Yakubu Baba stated that disease is a public health responsibility accounting for about 25 per cent of diseases in the country. He added that the council is preparing its practitioners to be sufficiently knowledgeable to be able to effectively enlighten the public on the negative effects of mycotoxins in food and the environment.
