Engaging the health and nutrition sectors in aflatoxin control in Africa

23 - 24 March 2016. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A two-day workshop under the theme “Mitigating the Health and Nutrition Impacts of Aflatoxins in Africa through Uncommon Partnerships” was held at the African Union Commission (AUC).

The workshop brought together stakeholders from the health and nutrition sectors; including representatives from member states, Partnership for Aflatoxin control in Africa (PACA), AMERF Health Africa, African union Commission (AUC) and, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) also recognizing the need for engagement with other sectors affected by Aflatoxins in order to identify synergies.

The objective of the workshop was to foster and reinforce multi-sectorial engagements for Aflatoxin control, particularly addressing health and nutritional hazards in Africa. The workshop is expected to increase awareness among health and nutrition professionals on the burden of Aflatoxins in Africa.

During the opening session Dr. Janet Edeme, Ag. Director of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the AUC emphasized that Aflatoxins pause a threat to food security health and natural trade as well as broad developmental efforts. She noted that the impact of Aflatoxins weigh heavily on human health and the evidence is widely spread on the continent as seen on the outbreak acute Aflatoxins recorded in Kenya and the chronic exposure data

in other countries like Benin, Ghana, Cameron, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Gambia and Uganda. This exposure cases have been linked to nutrition consumption of law grade Aflatoxins contaminated food stuffs.

She further added that the Aflatoxins are ravaging the continent and our women who are most vulnerable tend to be the most affected, as children are exposed while carried in the womb and the maternal diets. It also continues through their

weaning diets which increases their chance of being malnourished and developing anemia or having impaired growth.

Dr. Amare Ayalew, Program Manager of Partnership for Aflatoxin control in Africa (PACA-AUC) stated that that Africa loses trade due to Aflatoxins which also undermine food security both in terms of the quantum of food rendered unfit and the low-grade contaminated food regularly consumed by millions of Africans. He underscored the bottom line to all these problems is the adverse health effects of Aflatoxins.

He further elaborated that recommendations that emerge from this workshop will forge a way for the

whole continent to mitigate the health impacts of Aflatoxins. Therefore, he urged to focus more on the solutions and actions that are necessary to jointly combat the problem.

Dr. Joachim Osur, Director for Regional programs and field officer of Amerf Health state in his remarks stated that as an organization they recognize that by eliminating Aflatoxin contamination they will not only be improving supply of plant foods such as maize and groundnuts but also safer animal foods leading to healthier and productive livestock. This will save governments huge amounts of funds currently being used to treat preventable illnesses. He stressed that tackling Aflatoxin is therefore not just a nutritional and health issue but a great development initiative that will help achieve a number of SDGs.

Speaking at the workshop Prof. J. David Miller professor and NSERC Research chair of Carleton

University gave a presentation on a World Health Organization report on mycotoxin control in low and middle income countries. He focused on child health and pleaded for action for the “benefit of our children”. He further discussed the IARC working group report which has been distributed to 30,000 people worldwide and is a basis for improved health in developing countries with a focus on human exposure to Aflatoxins and fumonisions.

During the press conference that was held on engaging the Health and Nutrition Sectors in Aflatoxin Control in Africa Dr. Edeme of the AUC highlighted that more than 5 billion people in developing countries are chronically exposed by Aflatoxins.

Dr. Joachim Osur, Director for Regional programs and field officer of Amerf Health Africa further added that the problem is at a community level and that partnering is done with communities to improve their health. He expressed that until the district health system is able to come up with an intervention that can be implemented, this will continue to be seen as a problem.

Mr. Greg Garrett, Director of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) stated that 85 countries have mandated some kind of grain fortification and the central vitamins and minerals, and many of those are in Africa. However the bad news is some 25% of crops worldwide are infected with mycotoxin and what needs to be done is work with the PACA, the African Union and the government.

Ms. Martha Byanyima, lead expert of sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Programme of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) reinstated that COMESA is elaborating on action plan where they can take solutions and actions to member states and coordinate collective actions to ensure safe nutritious supplies.

The following workshop materials are available:

• Two Page Description of the workshop on “Engaging the Health and Nutrition Sectors in Aflatoxin Control in Africa”
• Program of the workshop on “Engaging the Health and Nutrition Sectors in Aflatoxin Control in Africa”
• Concept Note for the workshop on “Engaging the Health and Nutrition Sectors in Aflatoxin Control in Africa”
• Brief bios of speakers and presenters at the workshop on “Engaging the Health and Nutrition Sectors in Aflatoxin Control in Africa”

The following workshop presentations are available for download:

• Keynote Address: For our children
• Session I: Aflatoxins and Public Health in Africa: The Challenges
• Session I: PACA’s efforts at mitigating the aflatoxin problem on the continent: Adopting a holistic approach
• Session II: Acute aflatoxin exposure & Impacts: The Kenyan example and response towards outbreaks
• Session II: Health effects of chronic aflatoxin exposure
• Session II: The impact of aflatoxin exposure on infectious disease: immune function, malaria and HIV-AIDS
• Session II: Aflatoxins and animal health: Case studies from Africa
• Session II: Maternal aflatoxin exposure, infant nutrition and child health: case studies in Africa
• Session II: Occupational health exposures and potential risks of Aflatoxins
• Spotlight Report: Establishing a Platform for Research, Innovation and Collaboration In Global Food Safety
• Session III: Interventions for Combating Aflatoxin Health Risks: Highlights of health interventions
• Session III: Mitigating Aflatoxin Risks; Insights from the Aflasafe Project
• Session III: Mitigating Aflatoxin Risk through Value Chains in Ghana and Kenya
• Session III: Selected dietary approaches to counteract aflatoxin exposure associated health hazards
• Session VII: Building the “Africa Aflatoxin Health and Nutrition Network”

Extract from the programme
Findings of the report on Mycotoxin Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Prof. David Miller (Carleton University, Canada) Chair of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Working Group

Related PAEPARD blog post
17 February 2016. Action against widespread mycotoxin contamination

Video interview with Prof. David Miller (Carleton University, Canada) Chair of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Working Group
Findings of the report on Mycotoxin Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Prof. David Miller gave in this interview following comments: It is essential

• to assess the exposure to mycotoxins
• to develop cheaper bio modeling techniques
• to develop specific knowledge to better message and translate complex information [related to mycotoxin contamination]
• European researchers have made notable contributions to bio monitoring in Africa
• There needs to be a greater European recognition of better functioning and cooperation of our respective skills 
• The European Union needs to think about how to work better together more critically