Medical professionals have cautioned that the rising cost of eggs in Nigeria in recent months may have a detrimental effect on the physical and mental development of children under five.
The experts bemoaned the possibility that families would find it challenging to give their kids enough nourishment to promote healthy growth and development because of the high price of eggs.
They contend that eggs are a vital dietary item for young children. They supply essential nutrients for growth and development, such as protein, vitamins, and minerals.
The Feed Industry Practitioner Association of Nigeria has issued a warning that the rising cost of maize and soya beans, which are essential for the manufacturing of animal feed, could soon cause a shortage of eggs, poultry, and other livestock.
If the Federal Government does not step in and release grains from the nation’s stockpile to alleviate the burden of Nigerians, FIPAN warned, the country’s citizens may have to depend on eggs, poultry, and other livestock that are imported at exorbitant prices.
At a press conference, FIPAN President Raymond Isiadinso noted that the lack of maize and soy beans is the reason behind the high price of eggs, chicken, fish, and other poultry products.
In response, a doctor and nutritionist expressed concern that this would have a major nutritional impact on the nation’s under-five children’s health and wellbeing.
The experts said that eggs are a very nutrient-dense food that may give kids under five the building blocks they need for normal growth and development.
They cautioned that eating less nutritious meals in place of eggs may increase obesity rates and the health problems that go along with it, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease.
They went on to say that children who rely on eggs for sustenance may suffer from nutritional inadequacies as a result of the increased cost of eggs in Nigeria.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund reports that 6 million children, or 37% of the country’s total child population, are stunted—chronically malnourished or small for age—with more than half of them suffering from severe stunting.
According to UNICEF, 29% of children are underweight (both acutely and chronically malnourished and low weight for age), while 18% of children have low weight for height.
According to Omotayo Adesiyun, a pediatrics professor at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, eggs are a good source of proteins, vitamins, and macronutrients that are crucial for the development of the immune system, the eyes, the brain, the bones, and the muscles.
Adesiyun, a consultant pediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, pointed out that it would be difficult for parents to provide their kids meals high in protein because eggs are the costliest and hardest to come by.
She continued, “Eggs are crucial for a child under five’s nutrition not because the nutrients they contain aren’t present in other foods, but rather because they are all found together rather than having to be obtained from several sources.
Proteins, vitamins, and macronutrients are all present in eggs. They are critical for maintaining the health of the immune system, the bones, the muscles, the brain, and the eyes.
As I already mentioned, there exist alternative sources of nutrition. Meat, fish, and milk are good sources of protein and minerals. Vegetables and fruits include the vitamins. However, eggs have the benefit of being grouped together.
The issue with egg prices is that almost all foods high in protein are highly priced. Meat and fish is still more expensive than eggs.
“We used to advise mothers who could keep chickens to do so so they could feed eggs to their children, but it might not be practical now that chicken feed is so expensive.”
On the other hand, the pediatrician declared, “Children will not have a nutritional burden if they eat meat, fish, milk, vegetables, and fruits instead of eggs.”
Joshua Adetona, a licensed dietician, stated that depriving kids of their eggs could stunt their development both mentally and physically.
He claims that eggs are an excellent source of protein and other nutrients that are critical for brain development, including as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and choline.
In addition to their nutritional advantages, eggs are a reasonably priced dietary choice for a large number of Nigerian families. The rising cost of eggs could put a pressure on family finances and prevent kids from receiving the nourishment they require.
Youngsters under the age of five are especially susceptible to the negative consequences of inadequate nutrition. A child’s brain develops quickly in the first few years of life, and proper diet is needed to promote this growth.
Children have a crucial window of development throughout the first 1000 days of life. For them to reach their maximum potential at this time, they must consume enough food.
“Children under five may not reach their full cognitive and physical potential without the nutrients provided by eggs,” he said.
To address any nutritional deficiencies, the nutritionist suggests treatments including growth monitoring and vitamin supplements.
“The effects of inadequate nutrition go beyond just physical health,” he emphasized. Additionally, they affect children’s educational success and adult economic production.