More than 50 public, private and non-profit stakeholders recently attended a two-day workshop in Nigeria on aflatoxin, formulating solutions to reduce the impact of this dangerous fungus that infects grain throughout Africa.
The November 5-6 workshop, hosted by Abt Associates and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nigeria, supports a new project, the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA). PACA was formally launched by the African Union Commission in October to provide consistent coordination and coherent leadership to the continent’s aflatoxin control efforts.
After reviewing findings from the
Aflatoxin Country and Economic Impact Assessment conducted in Nigeria by Abt under the auspices of the Meridian Institute and with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the forum then elicited feedback from national experts in the health, trade and agricultural sectors to identify national priorities for preventing, controlling and mitigating harmful effects of aflatoxin. Participants shared their views on how aflatoxin affects public health, including liver cancer, interactions with hepatitis B, immunosuppression, suspected links to child stunting, and sometimes even death. To prevent these ills, infected grain must be destroyed, damaging a country’s ability to feed itself and export.
Attendees largely agreed that an integrated approach is needed to address the public health, trade, and food security aspects of aflatoxin. The group also discussed how gender empowerment, behavioral change communication, technology adoption, and rural agricultural development could be included in a comprehensive aflatoxin mitigation strategy. The meeting’s summary report will be submitted to relevant ministries, organizations and stakeholder groups within Nigeria, as well as to PACA.
Abt also will co-host a corresponding workshop in Tanzania with that country’s Food and Drugs Authority on December 3-4.