This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that nutrition plays a vital role in boosting immunity against the disease. This is according to Prof Michael Kiptoo, professor of immunology and CEO of the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), who emphasizes the need for conscious strategies for public education on the importance of nutrition in fighting Covid-19.
The Ministry of Health has developed guidelines for nutrition management of patients and health workers in Covid-19 treatment and isolation centres. These guidelines provide a step-by-step account of what health workers should feed patients at different stages of recovery. However, for these guidelines to be effective, they need to be cascaded, simplified, and translated into local languages for comprehension by communities.
Most Africans are active and resilient, and with the right nutrition, they can fight diseases effectively. President John Magufuli of Tanzania was quoted as saying that his compatriots are active and resilient enough to fight the coronavirus. Exercises, continuous hydration, consumption of fibre, and reduction of alcohol, salt, fat, and sugar intake are all essential in improving immunity.
Unhealthy diets can worsen pre-existing conditions, further lowering the immunity level. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 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, and it is worrying that people living with these conditions have been found to suffer more serious consequences of Covid-19.
The government has been vigilant but should do more to take care of vulnerable communities, such as those in low-income areas, the poor, refugees, and those in overcrowded conditions who have little access to basic services. WHO statistics show that 19.57% of the Sub-Saharan African population live in moderate to severe food shortage situations, which is likely to worsen due to the pandemic.
More than 62 million children under five suffer from malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, compromising their immunity and putting them at risk of coronavirus. The government should conduct more robust promotion of healthy diets to boost immunity and educate communities on how to use foods on Covid-19 patients.
