[pronut-hiv] Zambia: The Case of Vitamin A Fortification of Sugar - Part 3

["ProNut-HIV" <pronut-hiv@healthnet.org>]

Zambia: The Case of Vitamin A Fortification of Sugar - Part 3


Another extreme example that can be likened to the issue of sugar
fortification the Zambian way is through another debate on Euthanasia
(The right to take ones life or be assisted to take ones life in the
wake of a terminal condition that will ultimately lead to death).

There are very few countries worldwide that have legalised Euphemisia
and just now a debate has carried on over the years by many so called
developed nations whether or not this seemingly barbaric tendency should
be allowed.

It is on the same premise also that maybe the Zambian Parliament in the
spirit of responsibility over their nationals decided to go ahead and
outlaw unfortified sugar to bring to an internationally accepted level
of nutrition.

However, there is need to put on board the rights of specific nationals
who may not want to take any extra Vitamin A.

Strangely so, there has been no follow up survey since sugar
fortification was introduced in the country.

Nobody has educated the public on what some of the negative side
effects are, or when not to take it for those that have acceptable
levels in their bodies from other sources.

Nobody has even carried out a follow up study to check the impact this
exercise of about 10 years has had on the population.

The impact of this survey has neither been communicated to the Zambian
public who are the recipients of this Vitamin A, nor has there been a
publicised random check on those sugar manufacturers if they are giving
the right doses to the nation.

The ministry of Health has the obligation to inform the public or to
oblige the manufacturers of the product used as a vehicle to pass on
this 'medication down our throats' to time and again give detailed
information on the vitamin A.

A moral question therefore arises whether it is justifiable for one
section of the nation to push for the arbitrary transformation into law
about the intake of these supplements in the absence of a rigorous
national consensus both scientifically proven for the need for such
nutrients and or morally if anyone has the right to force people to take
nutrients they do not need...