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20,000 die annually of food poisoning - Akunyili By Tribune Published: Friday, May 15, 2008 Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili, has said that over three million cases of acute poisoning and 20,000 deaths occur annually due to exposure of food to pesticides. She said pesticides are chemicals used in preventing pests from damaging crops, grains and seeds, adding that most of the time, they are being wrongly applied and abused. Speaking during a sensitisation workshop on “Safe and Responsible Use of Agrochemicals” in Gombe, Gombe State, Professor Akunyili said the workshop was targeted at grain merchants, farmers, agric extension workers and other stakeholders involved in the use of agro-chemicals. According to her, the hazardous nature of pesticides and their inherent toxicity and ability to cause poisoning “makes it mandatory that we ensure the safety of the user, our populace and the environment.” The toxicity, she said, could be acute or chronic, ranging from minor discomfort to cancer, endocrine disruption, organic disorders and other effects. According to her, there was the need for all stakeholders to join hands to tackle the problem and safeguard the health of the people. According to her, it was important that agricultural extension workers, farmers, grain merchants and other stakeholders “get acquainted with the correct application of registered agrochemicals for use and ensure that all safety measures are strictly adhered to during application.” |
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